On March 17, 2026, a severe spring storm has led to significant power outages in Halifax and much of Nova Scotia. As of 9:30 a.m., more than 28,000 outages have been reported across the province, with Dartmouth and Clayton Park particularly hard hit.
In Dartmouth, approximately 4,700 customers are without power, while around 5,200 customers in the Clayton Park area are also affected. The situation has prompted Mount Saint Vincent University to announce that its campuses will remain closed due to ongoing power issues.
CityNews Meteorologist Allister Aalders reported, “It’s a widespread 30 to 50 mm of rain in the Halifax area, and I think most will be in the 40 to 50 mm range, and because we could see localized downpours or thunderstorms, there could be pockets of 60 mm.” Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to continue, raising concerns about potential flooding and further outages.
Wind speeds are projected to peak between 50 to 100 km/h, contributing to the hazardous conditions. Yesterday’s outages were primarily caused by high winds that knocked tree limbs onto power lines, resulting in additional disruptions.
In the west end of Halifax, more than 1,700 customers experienced outages due to fallen tree debris. Jairus Patterson, PUC’s manager of customer experience and engagement, noted, “The fallen tree debris caused two outages nearly simultaneously.”
Despite the challenges, the Sault Smart Grid has played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of outages by rerouting electricity. This advanced technology helped prevent outages for more than 10,000 customers in 2025, showcasing the effectiveness of strategic investments in infrastructure.
PUC is currently reviewing its distribution system to strengthen reliability and reduce future outages. A spokesperson stated, “Only customers directly connected to the damaged sections of the powerline experienced an outage while crews worked hard to complete repairs.”
As the storm continues to affect the region, residents are urged to stay informed about the situation and prepare for possible extended outages. The ongoing weather conditions highlight the importance of robust infrastructure and emergency preparedness in the face of natural disasters.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full extent of the damage and the timeline for restoring power to affected areas.
