Holiday storm pounds Atlantic Canada

A massive storm which paralyzed part of the U.S. eastern seaboard has arrived in the Maritimes. This is the fourth hit in as many weeks the area has suffered. Thousands were stranded in the American north-east over the weekend as weather disrupted rail, air and highway travel.

 

Starting as a low pressure area in North Carolina, the storm has moved north causing havoc. It has slowly gained strength along the way and Environment Canada is predicting it will intensify as it moves into Canada. A strip of New Brunswick, from Malagash to the Acadian Peninsula in the Northumberland Strait, is considered to have the greatest threat with between 30 and 40 cm of total snowfall expected in the hardest-hit areas. There are also warnings of high winds and seas, along with heavy rain and snow. Gusts may be up to 100 km/h and in coastal areas this will cause some dangerous surf.

 

As of this morning, reports indicate that more than 27,000 homes and businesses in Nova Scotia were without power and about 11,000 customers of NB Power had no electricity.

 

Environment Canada has posted on their web site as of 11am, Monday, December 27:

 

Moncton and Southeast New Brunswick

10:59 AM AST Monday 27 December 2010

Moncton and Southeast New Brunswick continued

 

Persons in or near this area should be on the lookout for adverse weather conditions and take necessary safety precautions. Watch for updated statements.

 

Please refer to the latest public forecasts for further details and continue to monitor the situation through your local radio and television stations or Weatheradio.

 

Environment Canada is also offering Marine Weather for: Maritimes with a map showing various warnings for the area. It also offers Public Weather Warnings for Canada once again with a map of the various areas threatened by adverse weather.

Click HERE to read more from William Belle

 

 

Environment Canada: Halifax

 

Moncton

 

Storm Surge Warning

 

Snowfall Warning