HALIFAX – A powerful nor’easter continues to grip Nova Scotia today, 24 February 2026, forcing a second consecutive day of province-wide school closures as residents and municipal crews struggle to dig out from a massive winter blast.
The storm, which intensified late Monday, has dumped between 30 and 40 centimetres of snow across southwestern and central regions of the province. High winds have created significant drifting and whiteout conditions, making travel “tough to impossible” according to Environment Canada.
School and Campus Closures
As of early Tuesday morning, all eight Regional Centres for Education (RCEs) and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) have confirmed that all public schools are closed for the day. This includes:
- Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE)
- Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education (CCRCE)
- Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education (AVRCE)
- South Shore Regional Centre for Education (SSRCE)
- Tri-County Regional Centre for Education (TCRCE)
- Strait Regional Centre for Education (SRCE)
- Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education (CBVRCE)
Post-secondary institutions have also been impacted. Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, Mount Saint Vincent University, and the University of King’s College have all announced delayed openings or full-day closures. Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) campuses across the province are also monitoring conditions, with many already confirming closures for the Tuesday session.
Travel and Municipal Impacts
The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) reports that snow clearing operations are underway but are being hampered by sustained high winds. Residents are urged to stay off the roads to allow plows to clear priority routes. The overnight winter parking ban remains in effect to facilitate clearing efforts.
At Halifax Stanfield International Airport, a “slew of flights” were cancelled or delayed throughout Monday evening and into Tuesday morning. Travellers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
Weather Outlook
While the heaviest snowfall has tapered off in some western areas, blowing snow warnings remain in effect for much of the province. Forecasters expect the system to continue moving through the Maritimes today, with a transition to rain expected for parts of the Atlantic coast by late Tuesday or early Wednesday as temperatures fluctuate.
Utility crews are on standby; however, power outages have remained relatively low compared to previous storms, despite the high wind gusts associated with this nor’easter.