East Coast braces for winter wallop

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The East Coast is bracing Thursday for a powerful storm system bringing heavy snow, freezing rain and strong winds.

The snow forecast for midday has prompted most schools in the Maritimes to shut down for the day.

As a low-pressure system makes its way across the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning across the Maritimes, with between 10 and 30 centimetres expected. Winds of 60 km/h gusting to 80 km/h are expected in the afternoon.

Environment Canada meteorologist Darren Borgel said the wind and heavy snow should hit around midday.

"When it's not snowing hard it's going to be blowing hard, so the snow, what does fall, is going to blow around, reduce visibility probably to zero in a few places, so anyone out and about please use caution," he said.

In New Brunswick, light snow has begun falling in places like Fredericton and Moncton, which are expected to get 20 to 30 centimetres. Southeast New Brunswick was expected to get the most snow — up to 30 centimetres in the heaviest areas.

Snow was also falling in Charlottetown, where a snowfall warning is also in effect. The Island could get between 20 and 30 centimetres.

The streets of Halifax are covered in slush and parts of southwestern Nova Scotia have been hit by freezing rain. A snowfall warning was issued for the area. Over the Cape Breton Highlands, Les Suêtes winds are expected to develop with gusts up to 120 km/h.

Snowfall warnings have also been issued for western Newfoundland, with 15 to 30 centimetres expected. The precipitation will start as snow for the whole province, but change to rain for the eastern half.

Flight delays are occurring in Halifax and Moncton.

Air Canada warned on its website that weather conditions could affect flights from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and P.E.I and asked that passengers check their flight status online prior to leaving for the airport or call Air Canada's automated flight information system at 1-888-422-7533.

But the storm is expected to move out quickly, beginning to taper off through the overnight for the Maritimes.

The storm moved over the U.S. Northeast overnight, bringing snow and rain, stranding hundreds of airplane passengers, leaving more than 300,000 customers in and around Washington, D.C., without power and making roads treacherous for Thursday morning commuters.

Meteorologists predicted up to 25 centimetres could fall in the Washington, D.C., area; 35 centimetres in New York City, and about 28 centimetres in Philadelphia and Boston before sunshine returns Thursday.

The New York area's three major airports saw more than 1,000 flights cancelled. Philadelphia International Airport expected more than 1,000 passengers would be stranded because of cancellations.
 
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