Soggy winter storm closes N.B. schools, warnings in effect across the Maritimes
A soggy winter storm made its way to the Maritimes Thursday morning, with Environment Canada issuing a combination of rain, snow and wind warnings for the region.
Schools across New Brunswick are closed for the day. Many Nova Scotia school districts have bus restrictions in place, and schools on Prince Edward Island remain open.
A snowfall warning has lifted in northern areas of New Brunswick where amounts could reach 20 to 30 centimetres.
The snow turned to rain by early Thursday afternoon for most areas of the province.
A special weather statement warning of chance of minor coastal flooding along the New Brunswick coastline on the Bay of Chaleur in the afternoon near high tide has been lifted.
Rainfall warnings across southwestern New Brunswick and most of mainland Nova Scotia lifted by Thursday evening.
CTV Atlantic meteorologist Kalin Mitchell says the higher rainfall amounts may combine with snow melt to increase the risk of hydroplaning conditions and localized flooding.
A wind warning that blanketed most of Nova Scotia and all of Prince Edward Island has ended.
And a Les Suêtes wind warning is in effect in Inverness County - Mabou and north, where very strong southeasterly winds are expected to continue in the afternoon before diminishing in the evening.
A special weather statement has ended in Yarmouth and Shelburne counties. Environment Canada says higher than normal water levels and very large waves are expected along the coast.
TRAVEL
The Confederation Bridge restricted certain vehicles from crossing due to high winds, but has since reopened to all vehicles.
Marine Atlantic says its Thursday departures from North Sydney, N.S., to Port aux Basques, N.L., at 11:45 a.m. and 11:15 p.m. have been cancelled. The Port aux Basques to North Sydney crossings at 11:45 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. are also cancelled.
Tancook Ferry has suspended service for the day.
The Saint John Police Force says water is pooling on many streets and there is some localized flooding. Saint John Transit says buses are operating, but there may be delays due to road conditions.
Travel is not recommended on the Trans-Canada Highway Route 2 between the Quebec border and Upper Kingsclear, N.B.
POWER OUTAGES
Nova Scotia Power was reporting 301 outages due to high winds affecting around 6,222 customers as of 9 p.m Thursday. The largest outage is in the Sherbrooke area, affecting 1,431 customers.
Estimated restoration times vary by community.
In New Brunswick, around 80 NB Power customers were without electricity, with the largest outage in the Moncton region affecting 63 customers.
Close to 40 Maritime Electric customers were without electricity as of 9 p.m., with most customers affected in central P.E.I.
With files from The Canadian Press and CTV’s Kalin Mitchell
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
BREAKING Former Air Canada employees among suspects identified in gold heist at Pearson airport: police
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
MPs summon ArriveCan contractor to the House to be admonished in rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archaeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.
Some millennials say federal budget was 'a letdown' amid cost of living struggles
It’s a picture-perfect scene: Adam and Maria Reynolds are playing with their daughters inside their Port Coquitlam, B.C. home. Watching them together, you might not realize the Reynolds household is stretched to its limit.