Weather warnings and watches are in effect right around the Maritimes with everything from rain, wind and snow in the forecast.
The region is getting hit by the same system that hammered parts of the United States, Ontario and Quebec.
Snow has been falling for most of the day in New Brunswick. It’s expected to turn to rain, making for a messy Friday.
Whipping winds have churned up choppy waters in Nova Scotia and parts of Cape Breton are bracing for gusts greater than 100 km per hour, while Prince Edward Island had a drier start to the day.
The winter storm hasn't stopped thousands of Maritimers from heading out to score Boxing Day bargains, but officials are asking motorists to stay off the roads.
Slippery driving conditions are to blame for more than a dozen collisions in the Halifax area alone.
Flight delays at Halifax Stanfield International Airport and the Greater Moncton International Airport are being blamed on weather in Ontario.
Cory Davis is trying to get back to the Prairies from Moncton.
“It will be a little hard if I don’t make my trip,” says Davis. “I’ll miss a day of work, but the more you stress out about it the less it’s gonna change so you might as well go with the flow, I guess.”
Some people did plan ahead, knowing air travel in the Canadian winter is tricky.
Serena Harris has allowed extra time to get to Florida for a family cruise.
“We did give ourselves two days leeway in case this did happen, but we’re getting a little nervous and anxious to get on our way,” Harris says.
The storm drives home the importance of being prepared and having the essentials.
“What we do need to ensure is that everyone has something in the car,” says Mat Whynott, MLA for Hammonds Plains and Upper Sackville. “Not just snowfall or small snowfall, if people need to drive with the conditions that are on the road.”
Moncton’s public works department says they have been ready for winter for months.
“Our salt supply is good,” public works director Don Morehouse tells CTV News. “Our trucks are all gone over in the fall so we have them ready to go so this will basically be our second real storm even this year.”
The weather is good news for ski hills in the region, many of which are now open for the season.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Felicia Yap and Jonathan MacInnis
