Environment Canada says a major storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico will bring snow, rain and wind to parts of Atlantic Canada this week.

The storm is expected to intensify and move across New England on Wednesday and into eastern Quebec on Thursday. Heavy rain is expected to spread across parts of Nova Scotia on Wednesday, accompanied by strong winds.

Forecasters say the strongest winds, with gusts up to 100 kilometres an hour, are expected in western Nova Scotia and the Cape Breton Highlands.

The nasty weather will start off as snow Wednesday in northern New Brunswick before changing to freezing rain, with similar conditions expected for southern areas.

Wind gusts up to 90 kilometres an hour are also expected in some parts of the province.

Environment Canada says winds gusting up to 140 kilometres an hour are expected in the Wreckhouse area of western Newfoundland.