‘Historic’ snowfall blankets Canada’s Atlantic coast, triggering state of emergency

More than a meter (3 feet) of snow combined with powerful wind gusts halts transportation networks

Residents along Canada’s Atlantic coast were digging out from a “historic” snowfall that paralyzed parts of the province of Nova Scotia over the weekend, triggering a state of emergency Monday.

More than a meter (3 feet) of snow combined with powerful wind gusts halted transportation networks and forced many businesses, government offices, and schools to shutter.

“It is very likely that areas around southeastern Cape Breton exceeded 100 centimeters” (39 inches) of precipitation, Environment Canada meteorologist Bob Robichaud told Agence France-Presse (AFP), describing the storm as “historic” in scale.

“If we look at the entire event, from Friday until this morning, these are record quantities,” he said.

Sunday afternoon, authorities on the province’s Cape Breton island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence declared a state of emergency, urging citizens to only travel out of “absolute necessity.”

“With this amount of snow and this type of snow- it’s heavy and sticky- it’s challenging, so we’ll take time” to deal with it, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said at a news conference on Monday.

He asked Ottawa to send in the military and other resources to help.

Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said he approved emergency aid and deployed Parks Canada heavy snow removal equipment and Coast Guard helicopters to move supplies.

“Nova Scotians – and in particular, Cape Bretoners – find themselves amid an unprecedented snowstorm,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.

On social media, residents shared images of the storm’s aftermath, some showing snow accumulations as high as the top of doors or the roofs of houses.

Halifax International Airport saw flights delayed or canceled and public transportation in the regional capital of Halifax shut down temporarily.

In January 2020, the Canadian army – considered help of last resort – deployed over 150 soldiers to the neighboring province of Newfoundland after a significant blizzard paralyzed St. John’s capital.

Over 70 centimeters of snow fell in 24 hours, trapping hundreds of residents in their homes.

Source: AFP