Wet, windy weather continues across Maritimes, disrupts ferry travel

It’s a great day to be indoors!

Rainfall warnings and special weather statements remain in effect for much of the Maritimes.

Heavy rain continues in western Nova Scotia and mainland Atlantic coastal counties. Some areas could receive as much as 100 mm of total rainfall in the heaviest downpours with southeasterly winds gusting to 80 km/h. Conditions should ease by late Saturday afternoon.

Central and eastern parts of the province could see 30-50 mm or higher amounts, with southeasterly gusts to 80 km/h into Saturday night.

A les suêtes wind warning is in effect for Inverness County – Mabou and north. Maximum southeasterly gusts could reach up to 110 km/h for Margaree Harbour to Bay St. Lawrence Saturday afternoon and evening.

The same low pressure system is bringing wet, windy weather to Prince Edward Island and southern and eastern New Brunswick into Saturday night.

Environment Canada advises that similar storms in the past have caused hazardous driving conditions and utility outages.

According to Nova Scotia Power’s outage map as of 2:26 p.m. Saturday, there were nearly 3,000 customers without electricity in the province, with the majority in the Bridgewater, Amherst and Dartmouth areas. The cause of the outages is under investigation.

Meanwhile. high winds and rough seas are disrupting ferry service:

• Marine Atlantic has cancelled Saturday’s crossings between Port aux Basques and North Sydney.
• All Northumberland Ferries departures have been cancelled for Saturday.
• Saturday’s sailings of The CAT have been cancelled and are planned to resume Sunday.

As of Saturday afternoon, the Confederation Bridge joining N.B and P.E.I. remains open, according to its website.