Sloppy storm with rain, snow closes schools in much of Atlantic Canada

Schools in many parts of Atlantic Canada were closed and travel was slowed today by a sloppy storm that brought rain, snow and wind to the region.

Environment Canada says the slow-moving low-pressure system was expected to move south of Newfoundland today after dumping up to 20 centimetres of snow in northern Nova Scotia.

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Some parts of Prince Edward Island were expected to get about 30 centimetres of snow before the storm moved on.

Increasing northwest winds reduced visibility in much of the region and high water levels were expected along the Northumberland Strait.

Eastern New Brunswick was expected to get between 20 and 35 cm of snow.

Winter storm warnings were issued for northern Nova Scotia, all of P.E.I. and parts of eastern New Brunswick.

Schools and colleges throughout Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were closed for the day.

Some businesses in P.E.I. were also shuttered for the day or delaying their openings, while dozens of schools in Newfoundland and Labrador were either closed or opening later in the day.

A series of accidents were reported in the Halifax area, but there were no serious injuries.

Police were advising motorists to slow down.

Many flights were delayed at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, but there were few cancellations.

The other airports in the region were largely unaffected by the storm.

Citing rough weather in the Cabot Strait, Marine Atlantic delayed evening ferry crossings between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.