Widespread storm brings mix of snow, ice and rain to N.B.
A winter storm has brought snow, ice pellets, rain and some dicey road conditions to parts of New Brunswick on Wednesday.
The storm, which began early in the morning with snow across the province, closed all school districts. Some universities and colleges stayed closed or delayed opening. Shelter hours in the province have been extended to 24 hours because of the storm.
Some areas have already switched over to rain, including Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton, and an advisory recommending against travel on the Trans-Canada Highway from the Quebec border to Fredericton was lifted.
While temperatures in the south were rising, possibly to a high of 9 C in places, they were expected to stay around the freezing mark for more northern areas, where 15 to 20 centimetres of snow could fall.
Newcomer's first experience with snow
Kaitleen Lacsamana is spending her first winter in Canada after moving from the Philippines in August.
She said she wasn't prepared for the snow.
Kaitleen Lacsamana is spending her first winter in Canada and says she wasn't prepared for the Wednesday storm. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)
"This will be the first time I'm experiencing this kind of storm," she said.
But one Moncton resident is rolling with the punches.
"I'm never prepared and yet always prepared for the unusual," said Cecil Long. "It's just part of life."
At 78, Long said he's learned how to embrace things such as winter storms. Plus, he said, the warm winter weather has been disturbing.
And nothing is stopping Long. He even loves what many can't stand doing — shovelling snow.
At 78, Cecil Long still sees the bright side of winter storms, and he loves shovelling. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)
"Seventy-eight and still dancing," he said. "Come on, it's great to be alive."
Despite the blowing snow conditions in the morning, temperatures could reach 9 C in some places on Wednesday, CBC meteorologist Tina Simpkin said.
A cyclist takes to the snowy Moncton streets. By early afternoon, snow was turning transitioning to ice pellets and then rain in southern New Brunswick. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)
A Fredericton police spokesperson said road conditions in the city were deteriorating, but there were no reported collisions.
In the Saint John area, waves bashed the shore, and winds were expected to gust to 90 to 100 kilometres an hour.
The storm also brought some scattered power outages, mostly in southwest New Brunswick.
Canada Post also announced it would halt deliveries in the province because of precarious conditions.
A man in Moncton shovels his driveway as snow continues to fall. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)
Environment Canada winter storm warnings remain in place for the northern half of New Brunswick, with a storm surge warning as well for Campbellton and eastern Restigouche.
Southern and central regions have scattered warnings for snowfall, wind and rain. The south could see heavy rain amounting to 20 to 30 mm.
A winter storm closed all New Brunswick schools and created hazardous driving conditions. (Gary Moore/CBC)
The province announced on Wednesday afternoon that the following shelters would be open 24 hours because of the storm:
Victoria Health Centre (Ironwood Resource Centre) in Fredericton
Oak Centre/City Motel in Fredericton
John Howard Society of Fredericton
St. John House in Fredericton
Grace House in Fredericton
Out of The Cold in Fredericton's Small Craft Aquatic Centre (8 p.m. to 8 a.m.)
Lions Centre (Bridge to Home) in Moncton
Harvest House Atlantic in Moncton
Outflow Ministry Inc. in Saint John
Coverdale Centre for Women in Saint John
Beacon Cove in Saint John
Out of The Cold on Somerset Street in Saint John
Miramichi Adult Emergency Shelter
Out of The Cold on Jane Street in Miramichi
Miramichi Youth House
Bathurst Emergency Shelter
Bathurst Warming Centre
Out of the Cold on Union Street in St. Stephen
