Weekend storm continues in Atlantic Canada with freezing rain, snow and fierce winds

Monday, March 23, 2015, 6:48 AM - The first Monday of the new season has Maritimers wondering whether to call it spring or "spring".

Certainly, the region got yet another wintry blast over the weekend, the latest in a very long line of storms that have made the season one of the snowiest on record.

This one had an unwelcome twist, however. While it remained most a snow event in New Brunswick, parts of Nova Scotia and PEI saw it accompanied by rain or freezing rain.

Although the system is mostly gone from the Maritimes, lingering strong winds will make for blowing snow in some areas. 

Many schools are closed Monday as authorities work to clean up the snow and ice.

In Newfoundland, meanwhile, windy and snowy conditions continue in the west, accompanied by colder temperatures.

Strong winds will make for blustery conditions as well, gusting up to 100 km/h before easing in the afternoon and evening, with the snow tapering off early Tuesday.

"Conditions improve in Atlantic Canada through the week before seeing their best conditions on Wednesday: Sunny and just slightly below seasonal," Weather Network meteorologist Matt Grinter said early Monday. "But there's a system to watch for Thursday and Friday."

Check back for details of that new system as the forecast firms up.

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Closings and cancellations

• New Brunswick: Several Francophone schools the east are closed. Anglophone schools in Miramichi, Rexton, Harcourt and Janeville areas closed. Several bus delays reported.
• Nova Scotia: Schools in Halifax, Cumberland County and Kings County.
• Prince Edward Island: Holland College, UPEI and Eastern College delay opening. All classes cancelled in English and French school boards.