Major storm disrupts eastern Canada

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Snow plough clearing closed highway in Canada
Image caption,

In mid-December, a similar storm shut down Canada's Highway 402 and a state of emergency was declared

The storm system that battered America's north-eastern states in recent days has moved north into Canada, causing widespread power outages and dangerous conditions.

Almost 40,000 homes in Nova Scotia lost power in the height of the storm as fierce wind gusts and blizzard conditions descended on the region.

About 11,000 homes in eastern Canada remained without power on Tuesday.

It is the fourth major storm to hit Atlantic Canada in as many weeks.

Last week, New Brunswick province suffered millions of dollars in storm damage to houses, beaches and tourist attractions.

On Monday, New Brunswick again experienced heavy snow and some areas of zero visibility, with wind gusts of up to 100km per hour (62 mph). About 16,000 households lost power.

Most towns in the area received a mixture of rain and snow, making for icy, dangerous road conditions.

Winds are still gusting up to 60km per hour (37mph) in New Brunswick, but the rain and snow have eased.

Dozens of flights to and from Canada have been cancelled or delayed, particularly in Toronto and Montreal.