Nova Scotia Battles Severe Winter Storm; Schools and Services Closed

Nova Scotia is recovering from a powerful winter storm that began affecting the region late on January 25, 2026. The storm has prompted significant disruptions, including school closures and delays across multiple communities. Residents are now working to clear snow while navigating altered public services.

Widespread School Closures

All schools within the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) are closed, with offices delaying their opening by two hours. The Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education has also announced a complete closure. Other affected educational institutions include the South Shore Regional Centre for Education and the Tri County Regional Centre for Education, both of which have suspended operations entirely.

Additionally, all schools within the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education are closed, and the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) campuses in Truro, Cumberland, and the Amherst Learning Centre are also shut down due to adverse weather conditions. The NSCC Pictou Campus, NSCC Strait Area Campus, and the Wagmatcook Learning Centre will delay their openings.

Public Transport and Services Impacted

In Halifax, snow routes for public transport are in effect, which may lead to delays for Halifax Transit users. Passengers are advised to plan for extra travel time. The Access-a-Bus service is expected to experience similar delays. Meanwhile, ferry services have not been significantly disrupted, apart from an ongoing 30-minute delay for the Alderney ferry.

At Halifax Stanfield International Airport, officials recommend that passengers check with their airlines before heading to the airport to ensure timely travel.

Curbside collection of solid waste is planned to continue as scheduled on January 27. Residents are asked to wait until the morning to place their waste curbside to facilitate ongoing snow-clearing operations. Key facilities, including the Otter Lake Waste Facility, the Materials Recycling Facility, and the Organics Management Facility, will remain open.

Municipal offices, including Planning & Development permit offices and Customer Service Centres, will not open until 10:00 a.m. on January 27. The municipality plans to provide updates if further delays or closures occur. Employees able to work from home are encouraged to do so, while essential services, including 311, winter operations, and Halifax Transit, will continue their operations as scheduled.

Finally, most municipally-operated recreation facilities are expected to open as planned, though residents are encouraged to verify the status of their local centres. The Halifax Public Gardens will be closed in the morning, pending a reassessment based on weather conditions.

As Nova Scotians continue to dig out from the effects of this winter storm, local authorities are taking steps to ensure safety and restore services as quickly as possible.