Quebec and Eastern Ontario were slammed with a nasty mix of snow, rain and wind Monday, leaving thousands without power as a fierce spring storm barrelled up from the U.S. eastern seaboard.
In Eastern Ontario, more than 28,000 customers were without power as of noon Monday, including 3,000 in Barrhaven and 2,300 in Gatineau, with blackouts reported in Kingston, Brockville, Perth, Winchester and Van Kleek Hill.
The worst-hit areas include Quebec's Lanaudière and Laurentian regions, though blackouts were reported in Quebec City, Laval, Montreal, the Eastern Townships and the Outaouais.
Hydro-Québec was forced to cut power in some areas in order to complete repair work on damaged lines, said spokeswoman Flavie Côté.
"There are some times when our teams have to go on site, and create a secure zone, to be able to work on the distribution system, which means no electricity will go through the lines for a certain period of time," she told CBC.
The massive spring storm also forced several Quebec schools to close for the day, including Lanaudière and Laurentian area schools in the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board.
Other schools closed on Monday include Joliette elementary and high schools in Lanaudière, Rawdon elementary and middle schools, Franklin Hill Elementary in Repentigny, Morin Heights Elementary and Ste-Agathe elementary and high schools.
Between 15 and 25 centimetres of wet and heavy snow are expected to fall in Cornwall and Prescott, Ont., according to Environment Canada.
In Ottawa, members of Parliament returning from a two-week Easter break will be greeted by 30 to 50 mm of rain and snow.
In Montreal and southern Quebec, between 12 and 20 cm of slushy snow fell overnight, according to Environment Canada, with more to come in the Laurentians and Lanaudière.
Quebec City, meanwhile, had wind warnings for northeasterly gusts that were expected to blast at up to 90 km/h Monday, with 5 to 10 cm of wet snow expected before the day's end.
The wet snow is causing significant water accumulation on highways, and Transport Quebec officials are warning drivers to slow down and allow for extra braking time.
The snow won't push into the Maritimes, though New Brunswick is expected to get 60 mm of rain and some strong winds.
As well, a storm surge warning is in effect for an area stretching from Halifax to Yarmouth.
The storm coming into Canada made its way through the eastern United States from New York, which was bombarded by rain Sunday.
At least one person died and hundreds of flights were cancelled along the U.S. eastern seaboard Sunday as a result of the storm.
That's on top of the five deaths blamed on the same storm system as it swept through the Plains Friday and Saturday.
Authorities in South Carolina said one person was killed and four seriously injured when high winds damaged dozens of homes in Sumter County.
Airlines cancelled more than 500 flights at the New York area's three major airports.
The storm also forced the cancellation of five major league baseball games.
More than 140 mm of rain had fallen in the New York region by Sunday night and up to 150 mm more was predicted to fall by the morning.
Authorities warn that high tide is likely to bring coastal flooding on Long Island, where falling tree limbs have cut off power to 1,500 households.
are scrambling to find any reserves of lobsters as an unusual shortage has left consumers paying record-high prices.
m. ET).
That's overstating it, but there's no underestimating the importance of goaltender Rick DiPietro to the New York Islanders.
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