Slippery, snow-covered roads cause closures and delays in the Maritimes

The week is off to a snowy and windy start for parts of the Maritimes, with slippery and snow-covered roads causing some closures and delays in the region.

Weather alerts

A yellow winter storm warning is in effect in Nova Scotia for Victoria, Inverness, Antigonish, and Pictou counties.

Environment Canada says hazardous winter conditions are expected to continue until the evening.

Five to 10 cm of additional snow is in the forecast, except in northern Cape Breton, which could see up to 30 cm, along with northwesterly wind gusts of 80 to 90 km/h.

“Snow, heavy at times will continue today over northeastern portions of mainland Nova Scotia and into tonight in western Cape Breton,” the warning reads.

“Winds will increase as they shift to northwesterly this morning. These winds will combine with freshly fallen snow and falling temperatures to reduce visibility in blowing snow.”

A special weather statement is also in place for eastern parts of Halifax, Guysborough, Richmond, and Cape Breton counties.

The statement says an additional five cm of snow is expected before ending in the morning in Guysborough County and in the afternoon in eastern Cape Breton.

On Prince Edward Island, a yellow winter storm warning is in effect for Kings County.

An additional 10 cm of snow is expected to fall until the evening, along with northwesterly wind gusts of up to 80 km/h.

There are no weather alerts in New Brunswick.

School closures

Many schools in Nova Scotia and P.E.I. are closed or on a delayed opening.

A full list of closures can be found here.

Other closures

All provincial civil service offices in the East Prince, Queens and Charlottetown areas of P.E.I. will open at 9:30 a.m.

The province says all civil service offices in the Kings County area are on a delayed opening until 10:30 a.m.

Many Health PEI services have been impacted due to the inclement weather and road conditions. A full list can be found on the storm centre section of its website.

Travel

Marine Atlantic has cancelled the following Monday sailings due to adverse weather conditions:

• The 11:45 a.m. crossing from North Sydney, N.S., to Port aux Basques, N.L.
• The 11:45 a.m. crossing from Port aux Basques to North Sydney
• The 11:15 p.m. crossing from North Sydney to Port aux Basques
• The 11:30 p.m. crossing from Port aux Basques to North Sydney

Northumberland Ferries says all crossings between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S., scheduled for Monday have been cancelled due to the high wind forecast in the Northumberland Strait.

“We are also cancelling the 0730 sailing out of Wood Islands, PE and the 0830 sailing out of Caribou, NS on Tuesday Dec 16,” reads an advisory on the ferry service’s website.

“We will be monitoring wind conditions closely and will provide updates as they become available.”