FREDERICTON -- The Emergency Measures Organization in New Brunswick is warning the public to prepare for a major storm that's expected to hit the province with a combination of snow, freezing rain and heavy rain over the next two days.
By Thursday morning, up to 40 centimetres of snow could blanket the northern and central regions of the province, while the coastline along the Bay of Fundy should brace for rainfall in excess of 100 millimetres, said Greg MacCallum, the director of the organization.
Central areas of the province will face a mix of rain, freezing rain and snow, MacCallum said.
"We're going to have potentially hazardous road conditions, especially in those areas with freezing rain and certainly in those areas where we're going to have significant snowfall," he said.
The snow and freezing rain on trees and power lines, already weakened by post-tropical storm Arthur earlier this year, could result in extended power outages, he also warned.
At the peak of that storm in June, more than 140,000 NB Power customers were without electricity.
The utility announced last week that it was spending an extra $5.1 million this year on tree trimming in an effort to improve the reliability of the provincial power grid.
MacCallum said Tuesday that NB Power is dispatching an additional 50 crew members on top of the 80 people it will have working in anticipation of the storm.
He said people should have supplies to last at least 72 hours, adding that heavy rain could cause flooding of streets and basements.
"The ground is frozen solid now so most of the water will be running off," he said. "It will be entering the waterways and accumulating in low-lying areas."
MacCallum said recent storms have made New Brunswickers better prepared for bad weather, but people need to exercise caution if using generators or any open flames, such as candles.
