George Street in Sydney, N.S., on Dec. 5, 2025. (CTV Atlantic)
A fresh wave of harsh winter weather hit the Maritimes on Friday. Cold air, fast-moving snow squalls and powerful winds led to school closures, power outages and travel delays across the region.
Weather Warnings Across the Region
Cold alerts for northwestern New Brunswick ended early in the day. Morning windchill values dipped near –30 before conditions eased.
Snow squall watches stayed in place for Pictou, Antigonish and parts of Inverness County in Nova Scotia. Forecasters expected up to five centimetres of snow through the day. Winds from the northwest reached 70 to 90 km/h and pushed heavy bursts of snow across open areas. The alert warned that squalls would cut visibility and cause quick snow buildup.
Cape Breton faced yellow wind warnings, with gusts nearing 100 km/h. These winds were expected to weaken late in the afternoon. Similar conditions affected eastern Prince Edward Island. Kings County dealt with both strong winds and a snow squall watch.
Schools Alter Schedules
Several schools in Nova Scotia delayed opening times or closed for the day. Schools in Prince Edward Island shut down completely. Students in New Brunswick had no major closures, though many already had a scheduled professional development day.
Travel Takes a Hit
Strong winds and thick squalls created a difficult travel day. Marine Atlantic cancelled all sailings between North Sydney and Port aux Basques. The company warned that Saturday morning crossings may also face delays.
The Fundy Rose ferry left Digby earlier than planned, setting sail at 3 p.m. instead of its later scheduled departure. All Northumberland Ferries trips between Wood Islands and Caribou were cancelled.
The Confederation Bridge restricted certain vehicles due to high winds. The list included motorcycles, buses, RVs, trucks, tractor-trailers and cars towing trailers.
Thousands Lose Power
Wind gusts knocked out electricity in several areas. By 8:30 a.m., almost 5,500 customers in Prince Edward Island had no power. Nova Scotia Power reported 25 outages that affected more than 3,400 homes and businesses, with major issues near Peggys Cove. NB Power recorded about 500 customers without service.
Sea smoke drifted across Halifax Harbour as the winds continued. A ferry crossed the harbour through the icy haze, showing the strength of the cold air mass sitting over the region.A Challenging Winter Day
Residents faced slippery roads, blowing snow and freezing winds. Emergency crews worked through the morning to restore power and respond to weather-related calls. Forecasters say conditions will ease later, but cold air will stay in place through the weekend.
