By Chetan Sharma
Power outages hit New Brunswick on Wednesday as a powerful ice storm forced mass school closures across the province, disrupting daily life from central regions to coastal communities. What began overnight as freezing rain and ice pellets quickly intensified, leaving roads slick, trees coated in ice, and thousands of residents dealing with both safety concerns and power disruptions.
The storm’s impact was felt early in the morning, with more than 3,000 NB Power customers without electricity as of 6:40 a.m., most of them in central parts of the province. Ice accumulation on power lines and tree branches created hazardous conditions, increasing the risk of further outages as the day progressed.
Schools were among the hardest hit. Entire districts shut down operations as conditions made travel unsafe. In the Anglophone West school district, zones three to nine — covering central New Brunswick — were all cancelled. Anglophone East closed all schools across its district.
In Anglophone North, closures were announced for schools in Miramichi, Rexton and Tabusintac, while students in Bathurst, Campbellton and Dalhousie faced delayed starts instead of full cancellations. Anglophone South also saw partial shutdowns, with Sussex schools, Norton Elementary, Belleisle schools and Apohaqui Elementary all closed for the day.
The Francophone system experienced equally widespread disruption. All Francophone North East schools were closed, while the Francophone South district announced closures across a long list of communities, including Baie-Sainte-Anne, Bouctouche, Cap-Pele, Cocagne, Dieppe, Fredericton, Grand-Barachois, Grande-Digue, Memramcook, Miramichi, Moncton, Notre-Dame, Oromocto, Richibucto, Rogersville, Saint-Antoine, Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, Saint-Louis-de-Kent and Shediac.
The scale of closures highlighted how widespread the storm had become, stretching far beyond a single region and affecting both urban centres and smaller communities. For families, it meant sudden changes to routines, while for school staff and transportation services, safety became the top priority.
Environment Canada continued to issue freezing rain warnings for central and southern New Brunswick, warning that conditions could remain dangerous with ongoing ice buildup. At the same time, snowfall warnings were in effect for Kent County, Kouchibouguac National Park, Miramichi and the Stanley, Doaktown and Blackville areas, adding another layer of complexity to an already challenging weather system.
The combination of freezing rain, snow and ice pellets created unpredictable conditions across the province. Roads became slippery, sidewalks hazardous, and visibility in some areas reduced, making even short-distance travel risky. Ice clung heavily to trees and infrastructure, raising concerns about falling branches and further strain on power lines.
For many residents, the storm was a reminder of how quickly conditions can deteriorate during transitional seasons. While winter may be nearing its end, ice storms like this can still deliver significant disruption, often more dangerous than heavy snowfall due to the invisible hazards they create.
Utility crews continued working to restore power and monitor the situation, but officials urged residents to stay cautious, avoid unnecessary travel, and remain alert to changing conditions. Updates from Environment Canada and local authorities remained critical as the storm evolved.
As New Brunswick navigates the aftermath of this ice storm, the focus remains on restoring normalcy — reopening schools, stabilizing power supply and ensuring public safety. Until conditions improve, residents are being reminded that even a thin layer of ice can have wide-reaching consequences across an entire province.
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