HALIFAX — A storm system that paralysed the northeastern United States arrived in Atlantic Canada on Monday, hitting the region with its fourth major storm in as many weeks.
Environment Canada has issued warnings of high winds and seas, along with heavy rain and snow.
According to Environment Canada, for Newfoundland a low-pressure system is expected to to slowly drift northeastward on Tuesday to eventually lie over southwestern Newfoundland. Easterly winds ahead of this system are expected to increase over southwestern Newfoundland this morning. Wind gusts in the Wreckhouse area will reach near 100 km/h this morning and peak near 150 km/h in the afternoon before diminishing in the evening. Winds gusting to 100 km/h are also expected along much of the west and east coasts of Newfoundland.
Snow will begin over southwestern Newfoundland and spread to the rest of island by this afternoon.
Snow is expected to change to rain in the south this afternoon and in most other regions this evening. Areas of western and Northern Newfoundland can expect snowfall amounts of 10-20 cm before the transition to rain. Eastern and central Newfoundland can expect snowfall amounts between 5 and 12 cm. Rainfall amounts will be the highest along the south coast where 25 to 40 millimetres are expected.
Shortly after 9 a.m. today, more than 27,000 homes and businesses in Nova Scotia were without power, and about 11,000 customers of NB Power had no electricity.
Blizzard conditions are forecast for northeastern New Brunswick with heavy snow driven by winds gusting to 100 kilometres an hour.
The rest of the province could get 20 to 30 centimetres, as well as pounding surf along the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
In Moncton, some malls delayed opening their doors because of the weather.
A storm surge is also possible along the east coast of New Brunswick, where a surge last week caused widespread damage to beaches and buildings.
Up to 40 millimetres of rain is forecast for southwestern Nova Scotia while the Halifax and Sydney areas could see a mix of 40 millimetres of rain and 20 centimetres of snow.
Winds gusting over 100 kilometres an hour are also expected to whip up a crashing surf in some coastal areas of Nova Scotia.
The forecast for P.E.I. calls for rain, heavy seas and 15 to 30 centimetres of snow.
Southwestern Newfoundland could see wind gusts of 100 to 130 km/h.
December has been a difficult month for many parts of the Atlantic region, where roads and bridges have been damaged, homes flooded, fishing gear destroyed and some wharfs and boardwalks pounded to bits.
The storm system caused thousands of flight cancellations Sunday in the northeastern U.S.
Dozens of U.S. bound flights from Canada, mainly from Toronto, have been cancelled or delayed, and travellers are advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
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