Get your shovel ready.
The snow has started to fall in Halifax, marking the city’s first nor’easter of the new year.
Environment Canada is out with a snowfall warning for the metro Halifax area. It’s predicting strong winds will accompany the heavy snowfall and cause blowing snow.
Radar image of Halifax as of 12:30 p.m. (Environment Canada)
We could see up to 20 cm before the system moves out of the region during the overnight hours. Parts of the coast are set to see a snow and rain mix.
The city says it will enforce the winter parking ban due to the messy weather. It will be in place from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. in the municipality to help crews properly clear streets and sidewalks.
That means you’ll need to make sure your car is off the road and not interfering with sidewalk clearing during those hours or risk being ticketed or towed.
The national weather forecaster also recommends you prepare to adjust your driving to the winter road conditions
Meantime, although schools are not open for in-class learning the Halifax Regional Center for Education has announced they will be shut down on Friday to all staff and students.
It says although most students have not returned to the classroom, many have been using learning centres this week.
Nova Scotia Power is preparing for possible outages and has activated its Emergency Operations Centre, stationing crews throughout the province.
Snowfall warnings are issued when significant snowfall is expected.
CLOSURES AND CANCELLATIONS
Schools:
- HRCE schools are closed to all students and staff due to the storm. Many have been using learning centres this week.
- All NSCAD campuses are closed.
Travel:
- The municipality will enforce its winter parking ban from 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. to help crews properly clear streets and sidewalks.
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport recommends confirming your flight status before you head to the airport.
Services:
- HRM says services continue to be impacted by COVID-19, including employee exposures and provincially mandated self-isolation and testing requirements. The services include Halifax Transit, solid waste collection, snow clearing efforts, some recreation centres and other municipal operations.
- Curbside collection of Christmas trees, recycling, and garbage will continue as scheduled.
- Green cart collection will be cancelled Friday, Jan. 7th in the following areas: Halifax, Sackville, Fall River, Waverley, Cole Harbour, Westphal, and Cherry Brook. It will be provided on January 21st.
Recreation:
- The Museum of Natural History will close at noon.
