New Brunswick hardest hit as winter storm slams Atlantic Canada

The Maritimes are being slammed by the late-season storm that pushed through southern Ontario and Quebec yesterday, with New Brunswick on the receiving end of a virtual 'freight-train' of heavy snow that stretched as far back as Lake Ontario.

Even as this storm was still dumping snow on Ontario and Quebec last night, it began its trek across the Maritimes, spreading lashing rain across Nova Scotia and up into the eastern parts of Newfoundland and snow through the rest of Atlantic Canada. While conditions throughout the entire region have been bad enough to prompt weather warnings from Environment Canada, New Brunswick seems to be getting the worst of this storm so far.

A band of heavy snow, lined up all the way back to the eastern shores of Lake Ontario, looking a bit like a freight train, has been driving straight through the middle of the province, and being whipped up into blizzard conditions by the powerful winds gusting from the storm. The heaviest snowfall has been seen through the central part of the province, between Edmundston and Fredericton, but the effects of the storm are widespread. Upwards of 40 centimetres of snow is expected to fall due to this band by the end of the day today.

Road conditions and visibility deteriorated to the point where officials are advising everyone to stay off the roads whenever possible.

"If you have to go on it, drive with caution," Ross Mathers, from the Maritime Road Development Corporation, told CBC News this morning.

"If you don't have to, do it like the airports and close it down," he said. "Use your phone and phone ahead and say, 'I'm sorry, I can't make it today.'"

All flights out of Fredericton Airport, headed for Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal, were cancelled this morning, although flight services have resumed as of midday. Schools, government offices and businesses remained closed this morning. All public schools will remain closed for the entire day, however colleges and universities, banks and government offices promised to open their doors by midday.

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The wintry mix of weather is set to taper off throughout the southern parts of Atlantic Canada today. However, plunging temperatures behind the storm are setting up a dangerous flash freeze situation for anywhere that saw more rain from this storm. Wet surfaces are expected to quickly become icy this afternoon, especially through Nova Scotia, as temperatures slip below zero by midday and continue to drop for the rest of the day. Environment Canada has issued warnings advising people to take caution and to be prepared for the possibility of ice pellets and freezing rain as well.

(Photo courtesy: The Canadian Press)

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