Winter storm dumps heaps of snow on northern Inverness County
A powerful winter storm swept in off the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Sunday, unleashing heavy snowfall on the western side of Cape Breton Island while sparing the eastern side near the Atlantic Ocean. Blair Phillips, the District 2 councillor in northern Inverness County, compared the storm to the infamous “White Juan” storm that hit Nova Scotia 20 years ago, as over 60 centimeters of wet, heavy snow blanketed the region.
Despite predictions of high winds accompanying the storm, Phillips noted that the winds were not as strong as expected. However, he anticipated spending the day digging out from the significant snow accumulation. Concerns were raised about the need to plow rural roads in case emergency vehicles were required to access remote homes.
In contrast, Victoria County on the eastern side of Cape Breton experienced less severe conditions, with some areas receiving up to 40 centimeters of snow. Lyle Donovan, the county’s emergency management co-ordinator, reported varying snowfall amounts across different regions, with North Mountain receiving the most snow at 60 centimeters.
Nova Scotia’s Public Works Department and Parks Canada worked tirelessly to keep main roads clear, with efforts focused on the Cabot Trail. Winter storm warnings were issued by Environment Canada, citing wind gusts of up to 85 kilometers per hour in Grand Étang, Inverness County.
School closures were implemented throughout the Strait Regional Centre for Education, with three schools north of Cape Smokey also shutting down. Despite scattered power outages across Cape Breton Island, most were resolved by early afternoon. Road conditions were reported as snow-covered in certain areas, with some roads showing icy patches.
Marine Atlantic cancelled morning crossings between Port aux Basques, N.L., and North Sydney, N.S., but evening crossings were expected to proceed as scheduled. The community braced for continued snow removal efforts and the aftermath of the winter storm, with residents urged to exercise caution while navigating the snowy terrain.
