Thousands of New Brunswickers left without power after wintry blast

FREDERICTON – An early blast of winter has left thousands of New Brunswickers without power and students with their first snow day of the school year.

NB Power reported more than 12,000 homes and businesses were in the dark at one point today, with the majority of outages in the Woodstock area.

The Crown-owned utility tweeted that it is still assessing the damage from the weekend storm that saw many areas blanketed in snow.

Environment Canada says the highest reported snowfall amount was 38 centimetres in Robertville, about 20 minutes north of Bathurst, which received 28 centimetres.

A number of communities, including Bedell, Perth-Andover and Saint-Quentin, reported 30 centimetres, while 12 centimetres was reported in Fredericton.

The intense, low-pressure system also prompted temporary wind warnings across Prince Edward Island as it tracked across the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Forecaster Tracey Talbot says conditions have since improved and the worst is over.

Think you had a tough drive into work today? Here’s Victoria Corner, New Brunswick. Credit Angela McHatten #nbstorm pic.twitter.com/H2dnx6SJHV

— Nicole Karkic (@NicoleKarkic) November 3, 2014

Trans-Canada Hwy. eastbound, closed at Dugan Rd., Exit 200, east of #Woodstock. Detour on old TCH. #NB #nbstorm pic.twitter.com/YeClgL1G7S

— Andy Campbell (@AndyCampbellCTV) November 3, 2014

“@TrafficNB: Route 95 / Route 540 pic.twitter.com/wqYwAVFKXG” #nbstorm

— Meteo Marsh (@MeteoMarsh) November 3, 2014

#Oromocto is in a radar hole & the snow lays a stones throw away from #fredericton -echos in the S moving N #nbstorm pic.twitter.com/aDLp5lpRBs

— Meteo Marsh (@MeteoMarsh) November 2, 2014

#nbstorm earlier today at my parents in Woodstock pic.twitter.com/RTDnwWbc7w

— Pamela Caldwell (@pamela3224) November 3, 2014

It’s looking like another banner year for anyone with a plow. #NBStorm #Noreaster #Fredericton pic.twitter.com/zIWj41dydz

— Nathan Coleman (@NateTWN) November 3, 2014