Many people in the Halifax area were dealing with flooding Friday night, following a series of torrential downpours and thunderstorms.
The Halifax District RCMP issued a traffic advisory around 8 p.m. AT asking drivers to stay home due to reports that sections of Hammonds Plains Road, Lucasville Road, Sackville Cross Road, and parts of Sackville Drive and Beaver Bank Road had been inundated by floodwaters.
The Bedford Expressway (near Sunnyside Mall) is currently also the Sackville River. #nsstorm #nswx pic.twitter.com/gDo58t3dn8
The Halifax Regional Municipality said on Facebook that comfort centers had been opened at the Beaver Bank Community Center and the East Dartmouth Community Center for people affected by flooding and power outages.
He said both centers would stay open overnight.
An emergency alert was issued shortly after 10 p.m., saying flash flooding was occurring throughout the township and urging motorists to stay off the roads.
The province also announced closures on the 101 Freeway in the Lower Sackville area.
Nova Scotia Power said it was dealing with blackouts in the Halifax and Liverpool areas caused by lightning strikes and thousands of people across the province were without power.
An official with the Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services said the department was very busy trying to help people in flooded areas and with vehicle rescues.
The closing ceremony of the North American Indian Games in Halifax, scheduled for Friday, was canceled due to extreme weather. But there are a few events left on the calendar for Saturday.
Earlier Friday, Environment Canada issued rain warnings for Halifax Metro and Halifax County West, as well as Guysborough, Lunenburg, Queens, Richmond, Shelburne, Sydney and Victoria counties.
Those counties can expect rain of 3.7 inches or more this weekend, the department said, with thunderstorms expected to accompany the rain.
He said the heavy rains could cause flooding, elevated river levels and dangerous driving conditions.
Numerous road washouts in the Bedford and Sackville areas!
The Bedford road is dangerous and completely covered in water, with rocks and debris in many places.
This is between Fisherman’s Market and Hammonds Plains Road. #nsstorm #nswx pic.twitter.com/5pUOLTc0K2
The advisories are in effect through Saturday night for the southwestern regions and Sunday morning for the eastern regions.
Environment Canada has also issued special weather announcements for Annapolis, Colchester, Cumberland, Hants and Kings counties.
Those areas can expect rain through Saturday afternoon that could exceed 40mm.
Environment Canada said the tropical nature of the moisture feeding the system could lead to heavy downpours.
Drivers should slow down if visibility is reduced, the agency said.
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