Latest storm hits N.S. with wintry blast: Delays and school cancellations

CITYnews halifax / By Steve Gow

Snow-clearing efforts were underway Tuesday morning as Nova Scotia experienced another bout of heavy snow mixed with precipitation.

According to the Halifax Regional Municipality, crews are focused on clearing main roads and sidewalks and ask people to avoid non-essential travel to assist in that effort.

On Monday, Environment Canada issued a yellow-level winter storm warning for Nova Scotia with hazardous winds and up to 25 cm of snow expected to fall through early Tuesday morning in the Halifax area.

Some southwestern parts of the province were under an orange-level winter warning, with some areas possibly getting up to 50 cm of snow from the heaviest storm bands.

As of 7:50 a.m., Nova Scotia Power was reporting around 2,700 outages across the province, with most of those in the southwestern regions of Nova Scotia.

Related:

• Nova Scotia Power to open emergency operations in advance of storm
• Windy winter storm causing school closures, warnings for coastal flooding
• N.S. resident builds crowdsourced pothole map to promote civic responsibility

The winter storm has prompted several cancellations or delays in many communities, including in Halifax.

Schools

All schools in the Halifax Regional Centre for Education are closed today due to poor road conditions, and to allow for cleanup following the winter storm.

Outside of the HRM, Annapolis Valley, Chignecto-Central, Strait Regional, Tri-County, Cape Breton-Victoria and South Shore Regional Centre for Education schools have cancelled classes today.

Dalhousie University and Saint Mary’s University have decided to delay opening campuses until 10 a.m. as will campuses at Mount Saint Vincent University and NSCAD.

NSCC’s Halifax campuses (Akerley, Ivany and Institute of Technology) are all closed today. Check the NSCC website for all other campus information.

Halifax Transit

Snow routes for Halifax Transit buses will remain in effect on Tuesday, but there are currently no impacts to ferry service, beyond the ongoing 30-minute service disruption for the Alderney ferry.

Halifax Stanfield International Airport

The storm has caused several cancellations and delays at the airport. Travellers are asked to check their flight status with their airline or at www.halifaxstanfield.ca before heading to the airport.

Solid waste

Curbside collection of solid waste for Tuesday is rescheduled to Feb. 28. Residents are asked to ensure any material currently curbside is removed to allow snow-clearing operations and to return only that material to the curb on the rescheduled collection day.

The Otter Lake Waste Facility, Materials Recycling Facility and Organics Management Facility will be closed on Tuesday.

Municipal offices  

All municipal offices, including in-person the Planning & Development permit office and Customer Service Centres, are delaying opening until 10 a.m.
If there are additional delays or closures, the municipality the Municipality will provide an update.

• Employees who can work from home are being asked to do so.
• All essential services, as well as 311, winter operations and Halifax Transit are maintaining operations.
• The in-person Budget Committee and Regional Council meeting will be delayed starting until 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
• If there is an additional delay or a change to a virtual meeting, the municipality will provide an update.
• Most municipally owned and operated recreation facilities are delaying opening until 10 a.m.

Support for people experiencing homelessness  

The municipality’s Housing and Homelessness Coordinators and After-Hours Individualized Mobile Engagement team (AIM) have continued to engage with those experiencing homelessness throughout the region to inform them of available shelter options, and where possible, help them with transportation to these shelters. The AIM team also provides hot beverages, sheltering supplies and
warm winter essentials, such as hats, gloves and blankets to those experiencing homelessness.

The Province of Nova Scotia funds the operation of emergency shelters in the municipality, which are run by various service providers. The province has temporarily increased capacity at shelters so that people have a warm and safe place to go, day and night.

• Halifax: 2029 North Park St.
• Halifax: Multi-Purpose Centre of the Halifax Forum, 6210 Young St.
• Halifax: St. Patrick’s Church, 2262 Brunswick St.
• Dartmouth: 197-199 Windmill Rd.
• Lower Sackville: Beacon House Shelter, 125 Metropolitan Ave.