Storm causes ferry service cancellation, school closures in Atlantic Canada

HALIFAX – School cancellations and travel delays were reported across a wide swath of the Maritimes on Wednesday as another winter storm descended on the region.

Environment Canada issued snow and winter storm warnings for parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, where notices of school closures piled up as the storm moved in.

All schools in Prince Edward Island were scheduled to close early as the province, still digging out from a series of big storms, was bracing for more snow.

Snowfall warnings were issued for the Nova Scotia counties extending from Halifax to the tip of the eastern shore on the mainland, where up to 20 centimetres of snow was in the forecast.

“Highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow,’” Environment Canada said.

Communities along the province’s Atlantic coast were warned to prepare for rainfall, followed by freezing temperature overnight.

In Halifax, city crews were still struggling to clear streets and sidewalks encased in ice after a series of rapid thaw-freeze cycles earlier this month.

Winter storm and snowfall warnings were also issued for the eastern half of New Brunswick, where 20 to 25 centimetres of snow was expected.

The ferry service that links Saint John, N.B., with Digby, N.S., was cancelled for the day, as was the ferry service that links North Sydney, N.S., with Port aux Basques, N.L.

Wind and blowing snow warnings were issued for much of western Newfoundland and southern Labrador.