Libraries, recreation centres to close early as snow impacts Halifax area

It’s a wintry Wednesday in the Halifax area as a snowfall warning remains in effect.

The Halifax Regional Municipality is forecast to see 15 to 20 cm of snow, with accumulation expected to continue into Wednesday night.

“Snow will intensify as it moves eastward across the province through the day,” read a statement from Environment Canada. “Snow will taper to flurries tonight over western Nova Scotia but will likely persist into Thursday over eastern Nova Scotia.”

The storm is leading to some early closures on Wednesday:

-Halifax Public Libraries will be closing all branches and departments at 3 p.m.

-Municipally owned and operated recreation facilities will be closing at 4 p.m.

-Municipal officers will close at 3 p.m.

-Solid waste collection will continue as scheduled.

The municipality also says Halifax Transit routes are on snow plan routes. There are no impacts to ferry service being reported.

Schools in the Halifax area remained open Wednesday.

Parking ban in effect

Drivers in the Halifax area will need to find off-street parking on Wednesday night.

The municipality has announced it will be enforcing the overnight winter parking ban, in both the central and non-central zones, overnight into Thursday morning.

That means no on-street parking is allowed between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.

“Regardless of the status of an overnight winter parking ban, or whether you have received a notification, vehicles can be towed, day or night, at any time of year, if they are interfering with snow-clearing operations,” the municipality wrote in a media release.

Halifax has been impacted by several snowy systems in recent weeks, with police issues hundreds of tickets for violating the parking ban.

“Complying with the parking ban allows for safe and more efficient snow removal,” police said during a recent storm. “The fine for not complying with the winter parking ban in Nova Scotia is $86.60.”