New Brunswick weather: Strong winds, below normal temperatures

Strong winds are expected to continue today as the centre of Sunday's storm moves to Newfoundland and Labrador, says CBC meteorologist Peter Coade.

"Althoughseemingly quite a distance from the Maritimes, it intensified to the extentthat we will experience itsstrong westerly wind todayand where that windblows across open waters, flurries can be expected," he says.

Coade says an area of high pressure is building into the region from the west and that will bring fair weather until mid-week.

A disturbance on Thursday is expected to bring showers, flurries and milder temperatures.

"Afternoon temperatures,after today's much colder than normalreadings,will start to turn a bit milder each day until rising to wellabove the normal with the arrival of that disturbanceon Thursday near 10 C," Coade said.

Conditions improved enough on Monday for for the Confederation Bridge to reopen. The bridge had closed to all traffic at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday.

However, the weather has prompted some districts to close schools in eastern New Brunswick.

The Anglophone North School District has closed schools in Miramichi, Rexton, Harcourt and Janeville.

The Francophone South School Districthas closed schools in Baie-Sainte-Anne, Richibucto, St.-Louis-de-Kent and Miramichi.

Monday's forecast

On Monday in northern New Brunswick, it will be windy and cold with a mix of sun and cloud and blowing snow.

Winds will be from the west at 30 km/hgusting to 50 km/h, gusting to 60 km/h on the AcadianPeninsula.

Highs will reach 4 C in the northwest and 0 C in the northeast but with the windchill it will feel between 9 C and 14 C.

For Fredericton and area, it will be windy and cold with a mix of sun and cloud on Mondayand winds from the west at 30 km/hgusting to 50 km/h.The high temperature will reach4 C.

In southern New Brunswick, itwill be windy and cold with a mix of sun and cloud on Monday and westerly winds at 30 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

The high will reach 2 C but it will feel closer to 12 C with the wind chill.

Tuesday will be mostly sunny across New Brunswick with a high between0 C and 2 C.