Schools close with heavy snow, dangerous travel as storm hits the East Coast

Widespread warnings were issued across parts of Atlantic Canada, with Nova Scotia and Newfoundland bearing the brunt of this winter storm. For the first time this year, all schools were closed in Halifax, N.S. first thing Monday morning.

Snowfall warnings blanket Nova Scotia, and winter storm warnings are in place for southeastern Newfoundland because of this disruptive Monday snowfall.

Expect travel delays and cancellations in Nova Scotia into Monday afternoon, with conditions deteriorating into the evening hours for St. John’s, N.L., as snow pushes over the Avalon Peninsula.

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All schools closed in Halifax Monday

The snow that piled up before dawn in Nova Scotia led to all schools being closed in Halifax for the first time this year.

Before 7 a.m. AST, 8 cm of snow had already been reported at the Halifax airport.

Drivers were urged to avoid any morning travel if possible, with snowfall rates as high as 2-3 cm per hour expected, making for extremely difficult conditions across the Halifax area.

Gusty winds are also accompanying the heavy snowfall, with reduced visibility likely, as well.

Widespread snowfall totals of 10-15 cm are expected across Nova Scotia by the end of the storm on Monday. Some areas could see 15-20 cm of accumulation, especially around Shelburne in the south and Sherbrooke in the north. A dusting of less than 5 cm of snow is in the forecast for eastern New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, including Saint John, Moncton, and Charlottetown.

Our attention then turns to Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula, where winter storm warnings are in effect and extremely difficult travel is expected into Monday evening.

Dangerous commute home likely across the Avalon Peninsula

The snow will intensify over the Burin and Avalon Peninsulas by the afternoon hours on Monday. Some of the heaviest snowfall rates with this system are forecast to cross the Avalon, where as much as 3 cm per hour could accumulate.

This is also an area that could experience a few hours of blizzard-like conditions, as heavy snowfall rates are paired with gusty winds.

WATCH: Wind-driven snow likely to snarl travel on the Avalon through Monday evening

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Wind gusts by the afternoon and evening will range from 50-70+ km/h.

"Visibility will suddenly be reduced to almost zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow," says Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the winter storm warning.

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The system’s steepest totals are likely to blanket the Avalon Peninsula by Tuesday morning. Widespread accumulations of 20-25 cm are expected from St. John’s south toward Trepassey. 15-20 cm of snow is in the forecast for the western half of the Avalon, with totals gradually falling off inland and along the Burin Peninsula.

Snowfall intensity lightens by the late evening and overnight, but blowing snow conditions will likely persist as the winter storm exits Atlantic Canada into Tuesday.

As the system departs, cold temperatures will persist for much of this week, and forecasters are closely watching the potential for another snowy system brewing for this weekend.

Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across Atlantic Canada.

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