Winds gusting up to 100 kilometres per hour have been battering New Brunswick all day, and the further south you travel, the more likely you are to experience whiteout conditions.

Saint John, Moncton and Grand Manan all registered wind gusts between 90 and 100 kilometres per hour

“I think we’re due for a good storm,” says Saint John resident Peter Creamer. “We got off pretty lucky last winter.”

“This is a good storm, typical Saint John,” says area resident Doug Basque. “Go for your walk, leave your car at home.”

Still, emergency officials say too many drivers are on the roads.

“On the same page with police, please stay off the roads,” says Saint John Fire Chief Kevin Clifford. “There should not be any instance where you have to travel. If it’s a life or death issue, call 911.”

Many flights were delayed or cancelled at New Brunswick airports, stranding some visitors.

“We’re just watching the storm pass from our hotel room,” says Calgary resident Jordan Martell. “It’s been bad, but it looks like it’s getting worse.”

Power outages across the province were relatively few, numbering in the hundreds for most of the day.

Most stores closed early, or didn’t close at all.

The storm also coincided with some unwelcome water issues in Saint John.

Water gushed from underneath Rothesay Avenue when a 24-inch pipe burst early Saturday morning, turning a large section of the roadway into a lake.

The water supply was quickly restored to the city, but other issues remain.

“We intend to go out and repair the line as soon as we can tomorrow morning, Sunday morning,” says the city’s chief engineer, Bill Edwards.

“In the meantime, we’re asking people to boil their water before they use it. It’s a standard procedure. We need to get tests back to show there is no issue with the water quality.”

The boil order includes a large area west of Russell Street, including the north end, south end, and uptown. The west side is not affected.

The combination of weather and water woes also activated the Saint John Emergency Operations Centre for a few hours Saturday.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron