Atlantic winter weather causes widespread outages, cancellations

Most areas in the Atlanticprovinces wereunder winter storm and snowfall warnings as the first snowstorm of the yearbrought heavy, wet snow and ice pellets.

• See what's open and closed inNova Scotia,New Brunswick, andP.E.I.withCBC Storm Centre
• Weather causes travel problems by land, sea and air

Severe snowstorm hits East Coast

9 years ago

Duration 2:48

People in New Brunswick woke up Wednesday to a snowstorm that has caused widespread closures

Heavy snowfall causeddangerous road conditions. At one point, theNova Scotia Department of Transportation was forcedto partially shut down the Trans-Canada Highway, Highway 104, connecting Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, but ithas reopened.

The stormknocked out power to thousands inNovaScotia. At one point, morethan 12,000 Nova Scotia Power customers were affected.

The weather has forced Marine Atlantic to suspend ferry service between Cape Breton and Port aux Basques, N.L.Bay Ferries has also cancelled today's runs betweenDigby, N.S., and Saint John.

Many schools and businessesacrossNova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I. are closed today.

If you don't have to be out on the roads, Environment Canada recommendspostponingall "non-essential travel" until conditions improve.

Lots of snow, blowing snow

The low pressure system responsible for the storm will continue to move across the Maritime provinces today, according to Environment Canada. The heavy snow will change over to rain showers along the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia this morning. Then, cold air will move back in bringing flurries with it for the three Maritime provinces.

Most of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick can expect 15 to 25 centimetres of snow today, however as much as 30 centimetres could fall in the northeastern part of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. High winds gusting between 50 km/h and 90 km/h will blow the snow around,making visibility difficult.

Storm surge warnings are also in place for all of P.E.I., eastern New Brunswick and Inverness County, N.S. Storm surgesposea risk for coastal flooding in those areas.

Halifax winter storm

9 years ago

Duration 0:43

Kenny Sharp digs out with his two boys and another boy on Wednesday.

The southwest part of Nova Scotia, as well as Grand Falls,EdmundstonandWoodstock, N.B., aregetting off relatively easy with no weather warnings in place.

Warnings still in effect forN.L.

After slamming the Maritimes, the storm will move on to Newfoundland and Labrador. The west coast of Newfoundland and the east coast of Labrador seem to be in for the worst of the winter weather, according to Environment Canada.

Those areas can expect between five centimetres and 20 centimetres. Strong northeasterly winds gusting between 80 km/h and 110 km/h are going to be a big problem for visibility right across Newfoundland and Labrador.