Environment

Canada and U.S. Experience Snow Storm and Freezing Winds

by Rob Walker | December 22, 2008 at 10:19 am

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Snow and wind battered most of Canada and the upper US this weekend, with many of the coastal cities still feeling the bite.

Winter weather wreaked havoc in Canada's coastal regions Monday, while other parts of the country were still digging out after weekend snowstorms.
Snow and freezing temperatures blew blizzard conditions into Atlantic Canada. And on the West Coast, Vancouver Island and Vancouver braced for more snow.

British Columbia got upwards of 15-20 cm of snow and police are advising drivers to stay off the roads. Numerous streets in Vancouver are barricaded to stop traffic and people have been told to stay home and not travel unless absolutely necessary.

Because of deteriorating road conditions and heavy snowfall, numerous streets throughout the city were barricaded to stop traffic, the statement said.

Hurricane force winds and freezing rain battered the Maritimes, with flights cancelled and homes without electricity in areas of Nova Scotia. Prince Edward Island recorded winds as high as 100km/h.

"It's a widespread and severe winter storm and it's not over yet with these high winds expected to continue for some time," said Margaret Murphy, a spokesperson for Nova Scotia Power.

The United States was hit just as hard with bone-chilling winter weather settling in all along the upper tier of the US. A bigger storm is gathering strength in the West and will be there all week.

Weather Channel meteorologist Kevin Roth, says the Midwest will be "very messy," with a two-day siege of snow, ice, and rain forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Iowa continues to experience freezing cold weather, and while winds are down more snow is expected overnight.

More snow is expected Monday night as another system tracks across the Midwest. Northern Iowa could see 2-5 inches by early Tuesday.

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JENNYSKIM

at 14:31 on December 22nd, 2008

I have taken photos around 3am, Dec.17,2008 It was starting time of Winter Storm in Toronto.

JENNYSKIM has contributed a photo to this story.

altrugon

at 13:04 on December 22nd, 2008

People were practicing cross country sky at English Bay Beach (Vancouver), that totally set me off :P

Pythiian1

at 17:39 on December 22nd, 2008

NYC is in the low 20's and with the wind chill, the temperature hovers around 12 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it rough walking around longer than 20 blocks even with the sunshine.