The storm is being described as “historic.”
Canada's easternmost province was paralyzed on Monday after receiving a meter of snow in one weekend, prompting authorities to request help from the army to clear it.
The precipitation paralyzed the transport network and also led to the closure of many businesses, schools and institutions, and caused power outages.
“These are record quantities that fell,” explained Bob Robichaud, meteorologist for the Canadian government who describes the storm as “historic”.
“Some regions received more than 100 cm,” he added, referring in particular to the surroundings of Cape Breton, an island located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where a state of emergency was declared.
Canceled or delayed flights
On social media, many residents shared videos and photos of the storm, some showing accumulations of snow blocking doors or overtop the roofs of homes, or even buried cars.
Some people are trapped inside.
Snow blocking doorways not allowing them to get in or out.
This video sent to me by Pam Leader in Glace Bay.
@CTVAtlantic pic.twitter.com/j5WYm7vxOS
— Kyle Moore (@KyleMooreCTV) February 4, 2024
At the international airport in Halifax, the provincial capital, many flights were delayed or canceled and public transportation in the city was suspended.
“With the amount of heavy, sticky snow we have received, snow removal is difficult and will take time,” Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston warned at a news conference Monday after -noon.
Also read Snow, wind, freezing cold... In the United States, a storm of climatic extremes
The latter specified that he had requested assistance, particularly military assistance, from the federal government as well as the neighboring provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
“I approved the request and asked my teams to determine the federal resources that could be quickly deployed,” Canadian Minister of Civil Protection Harjit Sajjan declared on Monday, specifying that Ottawa would notably lend equipment to Province.
Late last night I received a request for federal assistance from Minister @JohnLohrPC.
I approved the request and directed my teams to identify federal resources that can be quickly deployed to help Nova Scotians and Cape Bretoners now.
— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) February 5, 2024
In January 2020, the Canadian army - considered the aid of last resort - deployed more than 150 soldiers to the neighboring province of Newfoundland after a major blizzard paralyzed the capital Saint John.