More than 23,000 people across Nova Scotia are without power as strong winds and rain power through the province.
Some schools and transportation services were cancelled or suspended as the well-developed fall storm worked its way across the province. As of 12:45 p.m., there were 190 active outages.
Saint Mary’s University canceled classes until 5 p.m. due to power outages.
The Northumberland Ferry and Marine Atlantic services are cancelled for the day, while the LaHave Ferry and Tancook Island Ferry services are suspended until further notice.
The MacKay bridge is currently closed to high-sided vehicles.
A pedestrian walks around a large tree blocking Harvard Street near Duncan Street. Storm winds and pounding rain caused many power outages and toppled trees as a weather bomb made its way through Nova Scotia on Thursday. - Eric Wynne
Nova Scotia Power, anticipating high winds to cause tree branches weakened in hurricane Dorian to fall on power lines has about 450 power line technicians, forestry crews and damage assessors available to respond to power outages across the province.
The utility activated its emergency operations centre at noon on Wednesday in preparation for the storm.
Cindy Day, chief meteorologist of SaltWire Network, said while the system isn’t a weather bomb or a nor’easter, it is bringing strong gusts to the Atlantic Coast.
“We’re covered by wind warnings for mainland Nova Scotia,” Day said, noting winds could reach 90 kilometres per hour before dropping off.
Day said the South Shore regions to a little bit east of Halifax will see the heaviest amount of rain.
“In that area, 40 (millimetres) or more and locally, especially if we see a thunderstorm, those numbers could be closer to 50 or 60,” she said.
“I don’t see any thunderstorms right now, but it’s a possibility later on this evening or overnight.”
Day said the heavy rain areas will see is short-lived, lasting from three to five hours, before mainland Nova Scotia sees a break in precipitation this evening.
