Nova Scotia

Windstorm knocked out power to more than 100,000 homes across Atlantic Canada

Thousands of people across the Atlantic region are without power after a windstorm swept across Eastern Canada on Saturday.

New Brunswick hardest hit with 92,000 households without electricity

Powerful wind damaged the roof of an Irving gas station in Fredericton. (Ed Hunter/CBC)

Thousands of people across the Atlantic region are without power after a windstorm swept across Eastern Canada on Saturday.

Winds over 110 km/h hour knocked out power to 92,000 households in New Brunswick.

More than 18,000 customers in Nova Scotia and 3,000 in Prince Edward Island were without power early Sunday.

More than 200 Nova Scotia Power staff are working across the province to assess the damage, said spokesperson Tiffany Chase.

At of 4:30 p.m., Nova Scotia Power said there were more than 6,500 customers without electricity.

The utility said winds are starting to diminish, helping restoration efforts.

Most Nova Scotia Power customers are expected to get their electricity back by 11 p.m. Sunday.

Parts of western Newfoundland also experienced power outages. 

Winds remain strong in Newfoundland and Labrador, with gusts in parts of the region as high as 115 km/h. 

Many have been without power since Saturday evening. 

The Fredericton fire department received more than 100 calls overnight.

"Multiple, multiple power lines down, transformers on fire, trees on power lines, trees across the road, trees on vehicles. We've been pretty steady all night with that," said Peter McMurtrie, Fredericton fire's platoon captain.

Robert Duguay, a spokesperson for New Brunswick's Emergency Measures Organization, advised people to not approach downed wires on roads. Duguay also warned against using generators indoors.

All flights coming in to and out of Fredericton International Airport are cancelled Sunday evening because its runway lights are out — and service won't resume until Monday morning at the earliest. An airport spokesperson said crews are working to repair damage to underground wires which provide power to the runway lights. 

The Confederation Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles, RVs, buses and motorcycles due to high wind speeds. The bridge reopened to all traffic Sunday afternoon.

Concerns over wind also closed the Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick near the Tantramar Marsh on Saturday night.

The highway has since re-opened, but the transportation department is asking drivers to stay off the road if they can. 

Part of Barrington Street in Halifax was closed on Saturday night after debris flew off a building under construction. The street has since re-opened. 

Ferry service across the region is cancelled.