Hazardous driving as wintry blast moves over Nova Scotia

Residents in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) woke up to a messy morning after much of the Atlantic region was under winter storm warnings overnight Sunday.

Environment Canada has ended those warnings, but many provincial highways remain snow-covered and slippery heading toward the Halifax area.

Environment Canada says the western side of Cape Breton is expected to get between 25 and 40 cm of new snow, with gusts reaching up to 90 kilometres per hour, making driving hazardous.

City crews have been working overnight, clearing streets and sidewalks.

Alistair Aalders, 95.7’s Meteorologist, says we can expect a few more flurries in HRM this morning.

“We are now pretty much behind the system in the Halifax area with the system pushing off to the east,” said Aalders. “If you are travelling today, the snow will be lingering a bit longer in the north and in the east.”

He said Monday looks mostly cloudy for HRM, but snow squalls and poor visibility remain factors in areas north of us.

All ferry crossings between eastern P.E.I. and Nova Scotia were cancelled because of strong winds across the Northumberland Strait.

Schools delayed or closed

Some schools within HRCE were closed for the day, while others saw a delayed opening. Students at Bay View High, Eastern Shore District High, Marine Drive and Musquodoboit Rural High School were closed. All other schools within HRCE were delayed opening by two hours.

The Sunday storm also forced some cancellations and delays around the region. Classes will be delayed by two hours Dec. 15 at the South Shore Regional Centre for Education. Schools closed in West Hants area and school families of Horton, NKEC, Central Kings within the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education.

All classes were cancelled on Monday at the Chignecto-Central, Strait and Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centres for Education.

NSCC Akerley, Institute of Technology and Ivany campuses delay opening on Monday until 11 am.