Nor’easter live: Track the storm with news, video and maps

Wednesday, March 26, 2014, 3:36 PM -

RELATED: Wednesday afternoon and evening updates continued here

A powerful Nor'easter that's storming through Atlantic Canada has prompted widespread warnings across the region.

Blizzard, wind and storm surge warnings have been issued and residents are being urged to avoid an unnecessary travel.

We'll be providing real-time updates of the system as it unfolds here, so check back often for the latest maps, videos and reports.
Here's a break down of what has happened so far:

WEDNESDAY

4:37 p.m. ADT: MORE POWER OUTAGES REPORTED
According to Nova Scotia Power, 15,500 customers across the province have been left in the dark.

More than 1,600 are without power in New Brunswick. Multiple outages have been reported in PEI as well.

4:10 p.m. ADT: WINDS CONTINUE TO PICK UP

A wind gust of 191 km/h is recorded in the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, off the coast of Maine. "That's the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane," says Weather Network meteorologist Dayna Vettese.

Shortly after, a gust of 150 km/h -- the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane -- is recorded in Grand Étang, Nova Scotia, where Weather Network meteorologists Mark Robinson and Chris Scott are reporting live on location.

"It just keeps getting worse and worse," Scott says in a live TV hit.

Conditions are expected to worsen for some communities as the evening progresses.

"Some areas haven't seen the worst of the snow and wind yet," Vettese says.

"PEI, for example, will see conditions deteriorate further as the centre of the low continues north." 

3:30 p.m. ADT: TRAFFIC SHUT DOWN

"Its official," Halifax Traffic tweeted. "All 7 [sic] prov. ferries tied up due to weather. Hasn't happened before that anyone can recall."

A few minutes later, it was announced that all metro transit in the Halifax region is being suspended due to the weather. In New Brunswick, white outs conditions and very low visibility was reported, especially between New Maryland and Fredericton. Newfoundland's Department of Transportation advises motorists to stay off Burgeo Highway due to poor visibility and drifting snow.

3:00 p.m. ADT: NO LONGER A "JUAN-ABE"

"The low of central pressure has now tied the lowest central pressure of White Juan," says Vettese.

2:55 p.m. ADT: WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES

About 7,800 customers are without power in Nova Scotia.

2:30 p.m. ADT: HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS

Winds continue to howl with peak gusts of 180 km/h recorded. 

"That strength is the equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane," says Weather Network meteorologist Dayna Vettese.

"It's snowing just about everywhere in the Maritimes now and this is just the beginning," says Chris St. Clair in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Yarmouth, N.S. is now up to 18 cm of snow, and 18-foot waves have been reported just outside Halifax harbour.

"You really can't take much more than 30 seconds," adds chief meteorologist Chris Scott in Grand Etang, N.S. "The sand is just blasting in my face."

Scott asked for this though, it was a recent item added to his bucket list.

1:30 p.m. ADT: SNOW TOTALS CLIMBING, WINDS CONTINUE TO PICK UP

Between 5-15 cm of snow has been reported across parts of Nova Scotia so far. 

"Keep in mind though, this is all blowing around with wind gusts over 140 km/h in some places," says Weather Network meteorologist Dayna Vettese. 

Lesser amounts of snow reported in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island right now, but the provinces will be slammed with blizzard conditions later in the day. 

1:00 p.m. ADT: WHAT A DIFFERENCE A FEW HOURS MAKE

Plow operators have been reporting some parked cars on city streets, which are an extreme hazard during whiteout conditions. Residents being urged to move cars off the street if they can.

Most schools have been closed, buses pulled off the roads and flight delays and cancellations reported.

According to Nova Scotia power, 3,000 customers lost power at 12 p.m. Officials say it will likely take until 4 p.m. local time to fix the outages, although more are expected throughout the day.

12:15 p.m. ADT: SNOW PILING UP AT AN IMPRESSIVE RATE

Yarmouth, N.S. has picked up 5 cm of snow in just the last hour alone, bringing the total for the area to 8 cm so far. "Looking really hairy now." 

12:00 p.m. ADT: STAY HOME, STAY SAFE!

Conditions are deteriorating quickly across the Maritimes and it will only continue to get worse throughout the day.

"We're now starting to see winds gust over 100 km/h along the shores of Nova Scotia," says Weather Network meteorologist Dayna Vettese.

Some recent wind gusts from Nova Scotia:

• Baccaro Point - 126 km/h
• Grand Etang - 141 km/h
• Halifax - 74 km/h
• Yarmouth - 87 km/h

NEXT PAGE: A STORMY MORNING

"Buses have been pulled off the roads in Halifax, malls and liquor stores are closed as well," says Nathan Coleman. "Stay safe and stay home!"

Coleman remains in the thick of the storm where conditions are strong enough to knock his hat off. Take a look: