Nor'easter blasts Atlantic Canada, cuts off power to thousands
Digital Reporter
Thursday, November 27, 2014, 9:23 AM - It's a snow day in Atlantic Canada. A major snowstorm has buried parts of New Brunswick under more than 30 centimetres of snow, with another five to 15 centimetres in the forecast.
EXTENDED ACTIVE WEATHER COVERAGE: Tune in to The Weather Network on TV for live Nor'easter updates. Our team of reporters and meteorologists in the field provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date coverage.
Snowfall and winter storm warnings have been issued and residents are being urged to avoid an unnecessary travel.
As of 5:15 a.m. Thursday, about 40,000 NB Power customers were in the dark -- that number reduced to about 36,000 at 6:30 a.m.
RELATED: New nor'easter: Five things you should know!
Please be safe by staying away from downed trees and lines as they could be energized & contact could be fatal.
— NB Power (@NB_Power) November 27, 2014
Fredericton was the hardest-hit area, with more that 21,000 homes and business without power.
The Nor'easter will push out of the Maritimes Thursday afternoon, with an additional 5 mm of rain expected in Nova Scotia and 5 to 10 cm of snow left for New Brunswick.
The system will push into Newfoundland Thursday morning, bringing everything from snow, rain and freezing rain to parts of the province.
DON'T MISS: 2014 Winter Outlook: Atlantic Canada
Snowfall amounts of 15 to 25 cm is expected by Thursday night.
"Snow -- mixed with ice pellets and freezing rain south and east -- will fall across most of Newfoundland, but mostly rain is expected for the Burin and Avalon," says Weather Network meteorologist Dr. Doug Gillham. "A band of freezing rain is expected between the rain and snow, including the threat for a period of freezing rain in Gander."
SCHOOL CLOSURES ACROSS THE MARITIMES
The storm has caused schools in several districts across New Brunswick to close for the day.
According to the CBC, all schools are closed in the following districts:
- Anglophone West
- Anglophone North
- Anglophone South
- Anglophone East
- Francophone South
- Francophone North East
CLICK BELOW TO WATCH: Thunder-snow in New Brunswick (WOW!)
The University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University are both closed until noon.
Some schools in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island schools are also closed because of the storm.
Weather Network reporter Nathan Coleman will be in the field providing updates on TV and on theweathernetwork.com throughout the day.