Canada gets hit by US storm

A winter storm that gridlocked traffic, left flights cancelled and knocked out power along the US East Coast has pushed into eastern Canada, BBC reported Saturday.

As much as 60cm (24in) was expected to fall in some areas by Frida-end, blown about by heavy winds, from Quebec province to Newfoundland island. Authorities closed a 200 km section of the Trans-Canada Highway in Quebec.

The storm has been blamed for over two dozen deaths.

In the US, almost 450,000 people and businesses remained powerless in the typically mild southern states Friday, some for a third day, as the storm destroyed power lines and knocked down trees.

The weather system tapered off as it crawled farther north, but was still strong enough to bring almost 30cm of snow to areas of Quebec and parts of Newfoundland Friday, with high winds of more than 60 mph.

In eastern Quebec, several motorways, including the Trans-Canada Highway from Quebec City to Riviere-du-Loup, were partially shut after the snow and high winds dangerously hindered visibility.

Canadian weather officials issued winter storm warnings as another unrelated system is expected to bring severe weather to the Atlantic Provinces again Saturday and Sunday.

In the US, road conditions remained treacherous in some areas Friday. Thirty people were injured, five severely, in a multiple vehicle pile-up near Philadelphia Friday morning.

Officials said it would take many hours to clear damaged vehicles, including lorries. The crash spawned a traffic jam stretching for 8km.

Many schools remained closed in eight states from Virginia to Maine. Almost 1,700 flights were cancelled Friday, and 6,500 a day earlier.