The "Coastal Revenge" snowstorm of 2004

[tropicana]

Thursday, February 19, 2004
SNOW STORM SWEEPS NOVA SCOTIA


Snow-swept highways and roads throughout Nova Scotia were deserted Thursday as a powerful storm socked the province, forcing a state of emergency.
The storm, considered one of the most powerful on the East Coast this winter, was predicted to dump more than 50 centimetres of snow in some parts of the region.

"It's full-tilt pretty much everywhere right now," said Darin Borgel, a Environment Canada meteorologist in Halifax. "The strong winds and ... accumulating snow will continue into this evening."

The province called the state of emergency early Thursday, requiring all non-essential workers to stay home.

The winds and blowing snow were the main problems early Thursday as the storm - packing gusts up to 100 kilometres per hour - created whiteout conditions on the region's roads.

Most highways were deemed too treacherous for travel and were closed. In Halifax, police were told to pull their cars off the road unless they were called to an emergency.

"Obviously, driving conditions are horrid," said RCMP Sgt. Wayne Noonan. "In many parts of the province, the visibility is minimal to nil."

He said the biggest problems on the highways so far had been motorists stranded in snow drifts.

In most places, snow drifts were waist high. Those who ventured out had to shield their eyes against the fierce combination of wet, driving snow and gusting winds.

In downtown Halifax, one cross-country skier was seen making his way down the middle of the street past the snow-blocked sidewalks.

The snow drifts were so high Valerie Farmer initially couldn't get out of her house to get to work at a local hospital.

"I couldn't open my door," she said. "I had to get a neighbour to come let me out of my door. Then I shovelled my steps; from there I tracked through snow drifts."

In Nova Scotia's Queens and Lunenburg counties, plow operators were pulled off the road as drifts became unmanageable amid zero visibility.

"It's the first time that I've been here in six years that we've had to do that," said Aubrey Martell, area manager for the Transport Department.

"If we're not out there trying to keep the roads open then nobody should be out there," he said.

By Thursday morning, Yarmouth, N.S., had already received 52 cm of snow.

"Basically, (it's) blizzard conditions all through mainland Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, P.E.I. and southeastern New Brunswick," Borgel said.

He added Newfoundland was also likely to feel some of the storm later Thursday.

Schools were closed across Nova Scotia and in parts of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

The storm forced flight cancellations at Halifax International airport and delayed others at Moncton airport.

Environment Canada issued storm surge warnings for low lying areas of the Bay of Fundy coast and the Northumberland Strait from Tracadie, N.B., southward to the Nova Scotia border.

Gusting winds were expected to produce storm surges of up to two metres, causing concern for property owners near the shore.

Scattered power outages were reported in the Halifax area and along Nova Scotia's south shore as power crews braced for the worst.

"We think this is just the tip of the iceberg," said Nova Scotia Power spokeswoman Margaret Murphy.

"The weather system is just starting to build now and it has a lot behind it and we're expecting it to stick around for the day."

The Trans-Canada Highway was closed in northern Nova Scotia from the Cobequid Pass to the border with New Brunswick.

Nova Scotia's Emergency Measures Organization issued an alert Wednesday advising residents to put together an emergency kit containing a flashlight, batteries, food, water and blankets.
-justin-

[donsutherland1]

Stephanie,

I'm glad that you liked the photo. Eastern Long Island is very picturesque in any season. Hopefully, one day you will be able to visit Montauk Point, among other places near the end of the Island. It is somewhat far, especially for one traveling from your part of NJ, but there is much to see (including the vineyards which are quite nice) and there are also a number of great restaurants in the Hamptons.

[donsutherland1]

Justin,

Thanks for this info. The developing storm really began to bomb out yesterday southeast of Cape Cod and it is not surprising that an all-out blizzard is raging in parts of eastern Canada.