Atlantic Canada: Waking up to half a metre of snow

Tuesday, February 3, 2015, 8:08 AM - Another morning, another snow shovel workout in Atlantic Canada ... and forecasters say there's yet another round in store for later in the week.

This is all on top of snow leftover from a weekend storm that also slammed the region, and the new storm prompted Saint John to declare a state of local emergency.

The current storm, currently exiting the region, has brought 60 cm of snow to some areas, particularly PEI, with almost 50 cm for Moncton and parts of the Fundy Shore, once again bringing transportation to a halt and prompting numerous closures.

"The snowstorm is now moving into western Newfoundland and eastern parts of Quebec and Labrador as it slides out of the region," Weather Network meteorologist Brian Dillon said early Tuesday.

There are still a few flakes to fall in the Maritimes in the meantime, and the storm has left a nightmare for residents of the region.

Saint John, which was seriously hit by the last blizzard, declared a local state of emergency for the city's southern peninsula. Practically, that means a 24/7 parking ban for city streets, to allow room for plowing and emergency vehicles (residents can get the details here).

Transportation closures

• New Brunswick: Almost all highways covered or partially covered. Highway from Moncton to Nova Scotia Border closed as of 5:30 a.m. Atlantic Time.
• Nova Scotia: Almost all highways covered or partially covered. Handful of roads considered impassable (check yours here).
• PEI: Almost all roads covered or partially covered. Travel on the Confederation Bridge is restricted due to high winds, including: Cars towing trailers, motorcycles, highsided vehicles including trucks, tractor trailers, recreational vehicles, and buses.

• Moncton: One flight to Halifax listed as cancelled. Others operating normally.
• Fredericton: No cancellations or delays listed.
• Saint John: One flight to and from Halifax cancelled. Others operating normally.
• Charlottetown: Flights to and from Halifax and Toronto cancelled in the morning. One Toronto flight cancelled in the afternoon. Others operating normally.
• Halifax: Several regional and Toronto flights cancelled for the morning. Get the full list here.

• New Brunswick: All schools in Anglophone East and Anglophone South are closed, some schools closed in Anglophone West. Anglophone north schools closed in Miramichi and Rexton. Francophone district south schools closed. 
• Nova Scotia: All schools closed in Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton-Victoria, Chignecto-Central, Halifax, South Shore, Strait and Tri-Country regional school boards.
• PEI: English language school board closed.

• New Brunswick: UNBSJ closed until noon. Mount Allison closed until noon. Universite de Moncton closed until 1 p.m. (reassessing at 10:30 a.m.). UDM Shippigan closed until,12. NBCC Saint John classes cancelled for the day, delayed until 10:30 in St. Andrews and until noon in Dieppe and Moncton.
• Nova Scotia: St. Francis Xavier, St. Mary's, Acadia, Dalhousie and Kings College closed until noon. NSCC campuses in Burridge, Lunenburg and Shelburne opening at 10 a.m. All other NSCC campuses closed.
• PEI: UPEI, Eastern College and Holland College closed.

• New Brunswick: Service New Brunswick offices in Saint John, Sussex, Hampton, Moncton, Dieppe, Hopewell Cape, Richibucto, Sackville and Buctouche opening 10:30 a.m.
• Nova Scotia: Provincial offices across the province delayed opening until 10:30 or noon, depending on conditions. Service Canada in Halifax and South Shore closed until 10 a.m. (reassessing at 9 a.m.). Halifax municipal offices delay opening until 10 a.m.
• PEI: Service Canada delayed until 12:30 p.m., provincial offices at noon, further announcement in the late morning. 

Brace yourselves: Still more to come

Wednesday will be a calmer day, but keep your eyes on Thursday.

"Another low develops to affect the region on Thursday to Friday with more snow, cold and windy conditions," Dillon says. "At the moment, forecasted snowfall totals coudl range between 30-50 cm through the Maritimes on Thursday morning to Friday evening."

Our forecasters are firming up the numbers for that new storm. Check back often this week as more details become available.

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