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This NOAA satellite image taken Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012 at 1:45 a.m. EST shows strong low pressure departing the Northeast with snow over eastern New England and the Maritime provinces.Weather Underground/The Associated Press

The Maritime provinces were grappling with heavy snowfall, blowing snow and rain that knocked out power for thousands and grounded flights on Sunday.

Environment Canada said the intense nor'easter was expected to bring about 30 centimetres of snow to parts of New Brunswick, while about 15 to 20 centimetres was forecast for Prince Edward Island by Sunday evening.

About 20 centimetres of snow was expected to fall in northern Nova Scotia and blowing snow warnings were issued for much of the province.

Meteorologist Andy Firth said the snow changed to rain in Halifax northeast to New Glasgow as the day went on, but it then changed back to snow as the low pressure system tracked towards Cape Breton.

"It's a little closer to the coast than what was originally expected so it's a bit stronger low (pressure system) than what was originally expected," Mr. Firth said from Dartmouth on Sunday.

"When it goes by, temperatures cool off really quick and the blowing snow starts up and it gets kind of nasty again."

Mr. Firth said the western tip of Nova Scotia experienced blowing snow with wind gusts up to 80 kilometres per hour, while snow squall warnings were in effect for western Cape Breton on Monday.

Storm surge warnings had also been issued for northern Nova Scotia and along the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, where high water levels and strong winds were expected to produce pounding surf.

About 1,000 customers in western Nova Scotia and another 1,500 in central areas of the province were without power Sunday afternoon. About 1,400 people were also waiting for their power to be restored in Bouctouche, N.B. at that time.

The storm grounded flights at Halifax Stanfield International Airport Sunday morning, with delays and cancellations continuing throughout the day.

It was also to blame for several flight cancellations and delays at St. John's International Airport and the Greater Moncton International Airport.

Halifax airport spokesman Peter Spurway said the delays could continue into Monday and urged travellers to check on the status of their flights before heading to the airport.

Public transit in Moncton, N.B., came to a halt Sunday as Codiac Transpo suspended its service. Buses were set to resume Monday.

Areas of central new New Brunswick — like Fredericton and Gagetown — had just finished digging out of a storm late last week that dumped between 20 and 40 centimetres of snow. As much as 30 centimetres fell in those areas on Sunday.

The storm was expected to hit Newfoundland and Labrador on Monday, with snowfall amounts ranging from 10 to 15 centimetres in southern Newfoundland to as much as 45 centimetres in eastern Labrador.

Parts of northwestern and southern Newfoundland were bracing for winds gusting from 100 km/h to 140 km/h.

Meanwhile, a separate storm is expected to bring heavy snowfall and high winds to eastern Quebec today. Forecasts say the Gaspésie and Îles de la Madeleine could get between 15 and 40 centimetres of snow.

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