Historic snowfall buries parts of the Maritimes

Saint John resident Gordon Carvell digs out after a nasty winter storm.

Maritimers were digging out Tuesday after a powerful weekend storm delivered a messy mix of snow, rain and wind to the region.

All public schools in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and many in New Brunswick, were closed Tuesday as snow removal crews continue to plow roads and highways.

Government offices in P.E.I. were also closed, while many in N.S. delayed opening until noon.

Charlottetown was walloped with 80 centimetres of snowfall from this single blizzard, setting a local record.

Extra snow-removal crews were called into the city, though an official state of emergency was not called because emergency vehicles could still more freely through the streets.

Paul Johnston, manager of Charlottetown public works, said the city is asking residents to cooperate with the clean-up effort, which includes recognizing where to park and avoiding getting their cars stranded, cutting down lanes of traffic.

An order banning on-street parking in Charlottetown is in place, and could last until at least Thursday.

“Tonight, it’s the overnight period when we get the bulk of our snow-hauling done. Tonight is our first shot,” Johnston said.

During the storm, high winds knocked out power to thousands of customers in all three Maritime provinces. Most connections have been restored as crews work around the clock to get everyone back on the grid.

Meanwhile, airports across the region dealt with the remaining backlog of passengers produced by the storm. Some delays and a few cancellations were reported at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

Most arrivals and departures are on time in Moncton and Fredericton.

In Saint John, heavy equipment was back in force clearing city streets.

The clean-up effort, which has lasted several weeks already, could be costing the City of Saint John as much as an extra $1 million per week, according to one estimate.

City officials say, at this rate, they expect the clean-up to continue for at least another two to three weeks.

“The latest storm is defined as the third most important in the history of New Brunswick,” said Roger Melanson, the transportation minister, in the legislature.

Meanwhile, the provincial fire marshall is asking homeowners to ensure all doorways are clear of snow and ice, and to watch for excessive snow build-up on roofs.

In Saint John, city officials are pleading for patience, saying special equipment will be brought in to help clear snow.

Highway 1 near Spruce Lake was closed for a time as Saint John police and emergency crews responded to a 10-car pile-up caused by drifting and poor visibility.

While the storm has moved out, many Maritime streets are still slick and snow-covered, making for tricky commuting for motorists.

In Halifax, the overnight winter parking ban remains in effect from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The Halifax Regional School Board announced on Tuesday evening that all its schools will be open the following day.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore and Mike Cameron