While Central Canada remains under a deep freeze, high winds and blowing snow are wreaking havoc across Atlantic Canada, with both regions set for a reprieve within 24 to 36 hours.
The nasty weather across Atlantic Canada is the result of "an intense low pressure system" over the Gulf of St. Lawrence that is moving northeast. Conditions were expected to improve in most regions by Monday afternoon.
Environment Canada had issued a blizzard warning for all of Prince Edward Island, where snow and wind gusts of up to 130 km/h were expected to cause "near zero visibilities" across the province.
The Confederation Bridge linking P.E.I. and New Brunswick was closed on Sunday afternoon and will remain so "until the current weather situation changes," according to an advisory on the bridge's website.
Most Monday flights into and out of the Charlottetown airport were cancelled.
"Travel is expected to be extremely hazardous due to reduced visibility. If you do travel and become lost, remain where you are until the blizzard has passed," Environment Canada said in its weather warning.
"Protect yourself from wind, cold and disorientation by staying sheltered, indoors or with your vehicle."
Meanwhile, parts of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were under various weather warnings as the system moves northeast.
In New Brunswick, parts of which have received more snow so far this season than they typically do over an entire winter, blowing snow advisories were in effect for much of Monday.
Moncton and southeast New Brunswick will be hit with strong northwest winds and blowing snow, making travel potentially "hazardous," Environment Canada said.
"The strong northwest winds and periods of snow will give reduced visibility in blowing snow this afternoon over southeastern sections," the warning said.
"Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations. Visibility may be significantly and suddenly reduced to near zero."
About 3,800 customers were without power in New Brunswick on Monday afternoon, and the Canadian Red Cross has opened a warming centre in Moncton.
Emergency vehicles were pulled off the roads across much of the province over the weekend. Sgt. Dave Brooker of the Saint John Police said Sunday that calls for service "would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis."
Blizzard warnings remained in effect for northeastern Nova Scotia, where wind gusts are forecast to reach between 90 and 130 km/h. Some areas are expected to get a few more centimetres of snow.
"Damage to buildings, such as to roof shingles and windows, may occur. Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage," Environment Canada warned.
"Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions due to high winds."
In Halifax, officials are asking residents to stay off the roads so crews can clear slush and snow, and also get salt down after heavy rains were followed by a flash freeze.
On Sunday, heavy rain fell on the piles of snow that covered the city. The flooding led to road closures and the collapse of the roof of the Halifax Curling Club.
"We have 29,000 catch basins that are basically covered in snow and slush and lakes are forming everywhere," Don Pellerine, Halifax Streets and Sidewalks superintendent, told reporters on Sunday.
On Monday, the temperature in Halifax dropped to -14 C, with a windchill factor of -27 C.
Meanwhile, wind and storm surge warnings are also in effect for the south coast of Newfoundland, where "high waves and pounding surf combined with storm surge will produce higher than normal water levels."
This could cause damage along the coastline, the federal agency warned, as well as some flooding. Wind gusts could reach 100 km/h, and may persist into Tuesday morning.
Western Newfoundland can expect wind gusts of 110 km/h and between 10 and 40 cm of snow, the agency said.
Extreme cold
Meanwhile, the deep freeze is persisting across central Canada, where extreme cold warnings were issued for much of southern Ontario southern Quebec.
By midday Monday, however, many of the cold warnings were lifted in Ontario but remained in effect for large swaths of southern Quebec.
"Very cold temperatures" combined with northerly winds are producing windchill factors between -38 C and -42 C.
Residents in Calgary were enjoying something of a spring thaw, with the temperature forecast to hit 1 C under light westerly winds. The city's forecast high for Wednesday is 8 C.
With a report from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl
