Utilities and municipalities in Atlantic Canada are on high alert as they prepare for another severe snowstorm, bringing with it strong winds and hazardous conditions for residents. Environment Canada has issued warnings for blowing snow and winter storms across large parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and eastern New Brunswick. In the Wreckhouse area of southwestern Newfoundland, wind gusts are anticipated to reach up to 100 kilometers per hour.
In response to the forecasted conditions, Nova Scotia Power announced the activation of its Emergency Operations Centre at 8 a.m. today. Crews are already strategically placed throughout the province to manage potential power outages caused by the severe weather. Residents in Newfoundland's capital city, St. John's, have taken to social media seeking assistance as they find themselves trapped in their homes due to massive snowdrifts covering doors, including those of basement apartments.
The City of St. John’s has confirmed that all municipal facilities, including City Hall, will remain closed on Monday. This closure is aimed at providing city crews with the necessary time and space to clear the significant accumulation of snow experienced over the past week. Reports indicate that some areas of St. John's were buried under as much as 56 centimeters of snow. Additionally, neighboring communities such as Mount Pearl and Paradise reported heights of 65 centimeters and 74 centimeters, respectively.
In a statement, the City of St. John’s expressed their commitment to closely monitoring the conditions and indicated that they may implement additional measures if conditions worsen. According to Environment Canada, St. John's has seen almost 330 centimeters of snow fall since November 1, while central Newfoundland, particularly Gander, has recorded even higher totals of 434 centimeters.
Looking forward, the weather office has projected that northwestern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island could receive an additional 25 centimeters of snow by Tuesday. Similarly, areas in the southern region of the province, such as Bridgetown and Yarmouth, can expect the same snow accumulation. Nova Scotia Power has also alerted the public about the potential impacts of heavy snow and high winds, which could lead to downed trees and branches affecting power lines.
The utility stressed that the combination of heavy snow and high winds poses risks for power line technicians, particularly when wind speeds reach 80 kilometers per hour, which may slow down efforts to restore power. Overall, the challenging weather conditions pose a significant threat to safety and utility services across the affected regions of Atlantic Canada.
