The power outage affected more than 70,000 residents of the Maritimes area today, Monday, due to a storm bringing strong winds and rain to the region.

Warnings have been issued for winds in all three Maritime provinces, and the Canadian Environmental Agency says strong winds may continue until evening, with speeds ranging between 80 and 100 kilometers per hour.

The warning indicates that there is a risk of damage to buildings, roof panels, and windows.

New Brunswick is also under a rainfall warning, and the Canadian Environmental Agency confirms that rainfall is expected to range from 40 to 70 mm, which may cause localized flooding and water accumulation on roads.

Power outage

Approximately 26,000 NB Power customers were without electricity until 4 PM. The utility says it has opened its emergency operations center.

Nova Scotia Power also opened its emergency operations center and reported 121 power outages affecting nearly 36,000 customers until 4 PM.

In Prince Edward Island, Maritime Electric reported outages affecting about 10,000 customers until 4 PM.

Schools

The Anglophone North School District in New Brunswick said Miramichi Valley High School was dismissing students at 11 AM. The Anglophone West School District says schools in Area 1 (Edmundston) and Area 2 (Grand Falls, Plaster Rock, Perth-Andover) are closed.

In Nova Scotia, students at Island Consolidated School in Freeport will be dismissed.

Travel

The Confederation Bridge has restricted certain categories of vehicles from crossing. The banned categories include car towing trailers, motorcycles, high-sided vehicles including trucks, tractor trailers, recreational vehicles, and buses.

Northumberland Ferries also canceled its sailings from Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island, and Caribou, Nova Scotia, for Monday, except for crossings at 8:30 AM and 10 AM.

Bay Ferries said the 9 AM departure of the Saint John ferry was reviewed to leave early at 8 AM and at 4 PM, and the Digby departure was canceled.