Thousands of homes and businesses were still without power in Nova Scotia on Thursday afternoon after widespread rain and wind overnight.

As of 5:30&nbsp;p.m. AT, about 12,000 Nova Scotia Power customers were without electricity,&nbsp;according to the utility's&nbsp;

Sean Borden, Nova Scotia Power's storm lead, said&nbsp;the central and northeastern&nbsp;regions of the province were hit the hardest.

"This weather system brought high winds and rain across the province and impacted the power system and about 86,000 customers lost service,"&nbsp;Borden&nbsp;said Thursday morning.

Wind warnings end after power knocked out for thousands across P.E.I.

Three schools had to close and the opening time was delayed for others as thousands of homes and businesses on P.E.I. began Thursday without power because of an overnight windstorm.

A tree burns on a power line near Mount Stewart, P.E.I.

A tree burns on a power line near Mount Stewart, P.E.I., downed by a windstorm Dec. 1, 2022.

Burning tree

A tree burns on a power line near Mount Stewart, one of three areas of P.E.I. with major power outages Thursday morning.

The utility said 300 workers were&nbsp;out&nbsp;restoring&nbsp;power across the province. Electricity was expected to be restored for most customers by Thursday evening, said Borden.

A look at some peak gusts &amp; rainfall from the Maritimes overnight &amp; this morning. <br>Private weather stations show gusts topped 100 km/h in the Grand Pre area and in the Highlands from Cobequid to Antigonish County + Bras d'Or Lake area &amp; of course in Les Suetes.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nsstorm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nsstorm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nbstorm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nbstorm</a> <a href="https://t.co/nD0zqdxEJJ">pic.twitter.com/nD0zqdxEJJ</a>

CBC&nbsp;meteorologist Ryan Snoddon said wind gusts topped 100 km/h&nbsp;in Grand Pré, the Highlands from Cobequid to Antigonish County and the&nbsp;Bras d'Or Lake area. The Halifax area saw 25-45 millimetres&nbsp;of rain.&nbsp;

Environment Canada&nbsp;lifted all rain and wind warnings for the province as the storm moved&nbsp;east.&nbsp;

Crews navigate a downed tree to restore power Thursday morning. 

Nova Scotia Power Dec. 01 2022

Borden warned that post-tropical storm Fiona weakened or damaged thousands of trees that could pose a threat.

An email from Nova Scotia Power said 100 forestry workers have been in the field daily removing weakened trees across the province.

Over 4,000 damaged trees have been removed since power was restored after Fiona, the email said.&nbsp;

Eastern Passage woman says don't be 'complacent' about overwhelmed emergency rooms in N.S.

A woman from Eastern Passage, N.S., is urging people to speak up about emergency rooms in the province that are too busy to adequately treat patients.

Mallory Shemshadi says she's speaking out — not to criticize any of the medical staff — but simply to make some noise about a situation she worries is getting worse.

Mallory Shemshadi

Mallory Shemshadi says she's speaking out — not to criticize medical staff — but to make people aware that hospital emergency rooms are at a breaking point.

Acadia biologist excited at discovery of rare fern at West Mabou Beach

A rare fern has been identified on the land in the park, which is at the centre of a contentious proposal for a new golf course by Cabot Cape Breton.

Acadia University biologist Alain Belliveau was excited to discover a rare fern at West Mabou Beach Provincial Park during a biodoversity survey in 2018.

Alain Belliveau

Province creating foster home 'constellations' to mimic extended families

The province is changing how foster homes in Nova Scotia operate in a bid to encourage more community and social support for both children and caregivers.

Children's toys including a magenta stuffed animal strewn on the ground.

People who work with vulnerable families are raising concerns about the length of time kids in care were separated from their families during the first wave of COVID-19. 

Children's stuffed toy

There are currently around 850 foster children being cared for by about 650 caregivers across the province, said Tracy Embrett, executive director of Children, Youth and Family Supports with the Department of Community Services.

New Glasgow council looks at how wood heat could ease bills, help the environment

Officials in the Town of New Glasgow are looking at how the use of wood could lead to a reduced carbon footprint and lower heating bills.

A white woman with a blonde bob, red lipstick and a beige coat stands outside on a street

New Glasgow Mayor Nancy Dicks says introducing a district heating system in the town could reduce the community's carbon footprint while lowering heating bills.

Nancy Dicks

Atlantic ChiCan investment in Nova Scotia lobster business tops $45M

Clark's Harbour Seafood is set to open a new $15-million lobster processing facility this month, as the China-focused exporter brings its investment on Cape Sable Island in southwest Nova Scotia to more than $45 million.

A large blue building with white and blue trucks is seen at the end of a gravel drive

This lobster processing facility is set to open this month in Clark’s Harbour, part of a $45-million investment in Cape Sable Island by a company supplying China.

clarks-harbour-lobster-plant

Crews worked to restore electricity to thousands across the province on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. 

Power restored to most N.S. homes, businesses after widespread power outages

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