PHOTOS: Fierce storm blasts Atlantic Canada with 50 cm of snow, howling winds
A vigorous snowstorm battered the Maritimes, particularly Nova Scotia, Sunday night and Monday with substantial amounts of snow and howling winds, leading to blizzard conditions and dangerous travel.
The storm had already dumped 20-40+ cm of snow over parts of the Maritimes before dawn on Monday. Combine that with powerful wind gusts up to 80 km/h, and conditions across the region were completely treacherous throughout the day.
Halifax snow cleanup. Photo: Nate Coleman.
Several schools cancelled classes for the day, with many businesses and government offices also remaining closed through the morning hours. Thousands of customers were without power in Nova Scotia by 7 a.m. Monday morning.
In less than a 24 hour time frame, many areas in Nova Scotia were recording 40+ cm of snow. While the city of Halifax picked up 28 cm, the airport recorded 50 cm, beating out full monthly accumulations for both December and January this year. In other parts of the province, 48 cm fell in Rawdon Gold Mines and Tidnish Bridge, 45-56 cm in Nappan, 45 cm in Amherst, and 42 cm in Middleton and Kentville.
Many other communities across the Maritimes also saw between 15-30 cm of snow through Monday.
As well, several locales in Nova Scotia have recorded 100 km/h wind gusts or higher. A 104 km/h wind gust was recorded in Beaver Island.
The storm system pushed into Newfoundland through Monday afternoon, with powerful wind gusts of 80-100 km/h continuing for the southern shores of the island on Tuesday. The snow will gradually taper across the Avalon on Tuesday afternoon, though with western sections continuing to see sea-effect snow into Tuesday night.
Drivers are being warned that the strong northwesterly winds in combination with the freshly fallen snow could result in reduced visibility and tricky travel throughout the day. Several schools have also cancelled classes for the day across Newfoundland. Nearly 30 cm of snow was reported at St. John's airport Tuesday morning, with as much as 50 cm threatening the hardest hit places before it winds down throughout the day.
Below is a selection of some visuals from this latest feroucious snow storm that took aim at Atlantic Canada to start this week:
Justin Stewart - Halifax, Nova Scotia
Thumbnail image courtesy: Nathan Coleman.
