E. Canada blizzard heads for Newfoundland

• Tweet

CAPE BRETON ISLAND, Nova Scotia, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- A blizzard that caused thousands of power outages in the Canadian Maritimes was heading toward Newfoundland and Labrador, weather officials said.

The blizzard whipped up winds of up to 100 mph and caused flight cancellations and flooding in the Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in eastern Canada -- but the lights have come back on, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Sunday.

Blizzard, winter storm and blowing snow warnings are in effect through Sunday across much of Newfoundland, the CBC reported.

People in the Maritimes had just dug themselves out of Saturday's 16-inch snowfall when the wind blew the snow back, the CBC said.

Murray Murphy of Cape Breton trekked through the snow to get his morning cup of tea in Sydney.

He said, "It's a bad one and more coming. [I'll] probably go back home again and wait her out."

Maritime businesses and services were also shut down Saturday.

Doug Mercer with Environment Canada said, "This storm almost set some records," adding the wind was what would be expected from a Category Two hurricane.

Many departures and arrivals are cancelled or delayed at St. John's International Airport in Newfoundland cancelled or delayed numerous departures and arrivals. Passengers should check with their airline carriers for updates, the CBC reported.