Thousands in N.S. without power Thursday as temperatures drop

Thousands of households arewithout powerThursday as strong winds and heavy rain sweepsacross Nova Scotia.

Environment Canada has issuedrainfall and wind warningsfor most of the province.

CBC meteorologist Tina Simpkin said20 to 50 millimetres of rain is forecasted along with wind gusts of 90 to 100 km/h. She said temperatures are expected to fall below zero by the afternoon on the mainland and later Thursday on Cape Breton.

At one point on Thursday morning, over 30,000 Nova Scotia Power customerswere without power, according to the utility's outage map.

Classes have been cancelled for all schools in the South Shore, Tri-County, Annapolis Valley and Chignecto Central regional centres for education.

Halifax Regional Centrefor Education has closed some schools due to power outages, as has Strait Regional Centre for Education. Buses will be travelling on paved roads only inStraitRegional and all schools that are open there willdismiss at noon. Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre for Education has also dismissed some schools early.

Simpkin saidcold air and northwesterly winds Thursday night will contribute to snow flurries, with accumulation of up to 2 centimetresexpected in most areas but 5 centimetres possible over higher terrain.