Major blizzard forces ‘snow day’ on most of Atlantic Canada

Although snow days have always been one of the joys of childhood, the powerful blizzard sweeping through Atlantic Canada today is spreading anything but joy.

In Nova Scotia, which is expected to see some of the worse impacts of the storm, the list of closures is extensive, going beyond just schools to include colleges and universities, businesses and government offices.

Travelling anywhere within the province today will prove to be difficult, as roads are already showing as snow-covered throughout southern parts of the province and these conditions will spread throughout the day. Getting anywhere outside the province, or getting into the province from outside, will be just as hard. Marine Atlantic ferries between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland have been shut down for the day. Flights into and out of Sydney International Airport are all cancelled, and most flights into and out of Halifax International Airport have been cancelled as well.

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Power outages, which are frequently a problem during these storms, have already been reported in communities along the southeast coast of Nova Scotia, and more areas may be without power today or tonight as the heavy snow and powerful winds spread through the rest of the province.

Across eastern New Brunswick and throughout PEI, schools, businesses and government offices have either closed for the day or are shutting down by midday as the snow and wind from the storm push into the area. Some major roads between Fredericton, St. John and Moncton are only partially-covered with snow, but these conditions will likely worsen throughout the day. Airports in all three major cities are experiencing flight delays and cancellations (depending on the origin or destination of the flight). Road conditions throughout PEI are still good this morning, but all flights into and out of Charlottetown have been cancelled for the day.

The worst of the storm for the southern Maritimes will be during this afternoon and evening, as the storm centre sweeps past just off the coast. Wind gusts are expected to reach up to 100 kilometres per hour or higher at times, and coupled with the bands of heavy snow from the storm, this is producing blizzard conditions across all regions of Nova Scotia and PEI, as well as eastern New Brunswick. Snowfall amounts could reach up to 40 centimetres in most areas, but a swath of slightly warmer weather along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island will likely turn the snow to rain this afternoon, producing a sloppy, slushy mess on roads and surfaces.

A storm surge is also expected at high tide this afternoon, and warnings are in effect along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy coast in New Brunswick.

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This nor'easter is continuing its track to the north throughout the day and into tonight, with the snow and wind expected to push across Newfoundland and Labrador this evening and last throughout the night. In anticipation of the storm, classes and some events are being cancelled for this afternoon and evening. Some flights at St. John's International Airport have been cancelled as well, and there may be more delays and cancellations as the storm begins to

The storm is expected to drop most of its load of snow over the other Maritime provinces, though, so snowfall amounts aren't expected to be as high, with up to 30 centimetres possible in some areas. Winds will be significantly stronger, however, possibly with gusts pushing up to hurricane force (between 160-180 kilometres per hour) at times.

(Image courtesy: Canadian Press)

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