Moncton Nor'easter Breakdown: What to Do

If your car quits near Moncton in a nor'easter, stay buckled in with your hazards on. Get as far off the road as the car will roll. If anyone is hurt or you're stuck in a live lane, call 911 first. Then note the road you're on: a city street, Wheeler Boulevard or the Trans-Canada. Clear snow from your tailpipe before you run the engine for heat. And if you leave the car on a city street, check the overnight parking ban first.

What should I do the moment my car stops in the storm?

Snow is blowing sideways. The wipers can't keep up. Then the engine coughs and dies on Mountain Road. Here's the order that matters:

Hazards on right away. In blowing snow, other drivers see your lights long before they see your car.
Coast to the edge. If the car still rolls, get it onto the shoulder or a side street. Don't stop on a hill if you can avoid it.
Stay inside, belt on. A car is warmer and safer than a snowbank. Get out only if you smell smoke or sit in a live lane, then move well away from traffic.
Check the tailpipe. If snow has piled up behind the car, clear it before you start the engine for heat. Crack a window a little.
Save your phone battery. Turn down the screen and close apps you don't need. You'll want it for texts about your driver.

How bad does winter get around Moncton?

Bad enough to plan for. Environment Canada's normals for the Moncton airport show about 325 cm of snow a year. Freezing rain or drizzle falls on about 17 days a year. Blowing snow shows up on about 12 days, and fog on about 47.

The City of Moncton calls itself one of the snowiest cities in Canada. Its snow crews work from early December into April. So a nor'easter is not a rare event here. It's a normal part of the season, and your car needs to be ready for it.

Who plows the road I'm stuck on?

This surprises a lot of drivers. The city does not plow Wheeler Boulevard or the Trans-Canada Highway. The provincial government clears both. If you see a snow problem on those roads, you report it to the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure at 1-833-384-4111.

On city streets, the plan goes by traffic:

Priority 1 streets include Main Street, Mountain Road and Vaughan Harvey Boulevard. Evergreen Drive, Frampton Lane and Hennessey Road are also on the priority list. Crews start plowing these after 5 cm of snow.
Residential streets get cleared after 5 to 8 cm has fallen.
Back-to-back storms: if a second big snowfall hits first, crews go back to hills and busy streets before side streets.

Why does this matter when you're stuck? A quiet side street in a long storm may stay deep for a while. If you slid off a residential street into a snowbank and the car isn't damaged, a winch-out can often pull you back onto the road.

How do I tell a driver where I am in a whiteout?

Snow covers street signs and lane lines. Landmarks still help. Give the dispatcher the best of these you can see:

On Wheeler Boulevard: your direction and the nearest traffic circle or exit you passed.
On the Trans-Canada (Route 2): your direction, toward Nova Scotia or toward Fredericton, and the last exit number.
On a city street: the nearest cross street, a store name or a house number.
In a parking lot: the business name and which side of the lot you're in.

If your phone shares location, let it. A pin is easier to find than a street name under deep snow.

What does New Brunswick law say about passing a tow truck?

New Brunswick's Motor Vehicle Act lists tow trucks as service vehicles. When one is stopped on a highway with amber lights flashing, drivers on that side must slow to half the posted limit. On a highway with two or more lanes their way, drivers in the same or the next lane must also move over when it's safe. The rule is in section 168.1.

That rule protects your driver while they work beside traffic. It protects you too, if you're waiting on the shoulder. In a storm, stay in the car until your driver tells you where to stand.

And snowplows?

The province says don't pass a snowplow that's working. Plows throw up whiteouts, and a ridge of snow can build between two of them. Keep back 30 meters so the operator can see you.

Can my car get towed for parking on the street during a storm?

Yes. Moncton has winter parking restrictions from Dec. 1 to April 15. Overnight parking is allowed on most city streets, except when snow clearing or ice removal is expected or under way. When a ban is on, you can't park on the street from midnight to 7 a.m. The city issues the notice by 4 p.m.

Cars left on the street during a ban risk a ticket and a tow. The city splits bans into three zones: city-wide, downtown and the area around the hospitals. A ban can be on in one zone and not another. Existing signs still apply, too.

Daytime counts as well. When crews post temporary no-parking signs, move your car until the work is done. Clearing can start up to 24 hours after the signs go up.

My car broke down on the street and a ban starts tonight. Now what?

Get it moved before midnight. A jump start may be all a cold battery needs. If it still won't go, a tow to a garage or your driveway keeps it off the street.

What if it's already been towed for the ban?

The city says ban tows go to a compound in Moncton. Call the RCMP at 506-857-2400, and they will help you find it. Sentinel doesn't do impounds or ban tows, so we can't release or move a car from a compound. To get ban alerts by text or email, sign up for Moncton Alerts and choose "Parking Bans."

What should be in my car before the next nor'easter?

The province suggests a winter kit. Some items from its list:

A blanket and warm clothes
Snacks and drinks (never alcohol)
A small shovel and a bag of sand
A flashlight and flares
A window scraper
Long jumper cables
A charged cell phone

The province also says to keep your gas tank at least half full. It also advises four snow tires instead of all-seasons. Before you leave, dial 511 in New Brunswick, or 1-800-561-4063 from outside it, for road conditions. You can also check New Brunswick 511 online.

Ran low anyway after an hour of creeping along Route 2? Ask for fuel delivery instead of a tow.

How does Sentinel help in a storm?

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We lock your price by text first, then text you your driver's name, photo and truck. You can track the truck on a map while you stay warm in the car. We check on you by text until help arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise. See more about the area on our Moncton towing page.

Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.

Moncton Nor'easter Questions

Should I wait out a nor'easter in my car or walk for help?

In most cases, stay in the car. It blocks the wind and other drivers can see it. Keep the tailpipe clear if you run the engine. Leave only if the car is in a live lane or you smell smoke.

Is the parking ban on every night all winter in Moncton?

No. Overnight parking is allowed on most streets from Dec. 1 to April 15, except when snow clearing is expected or under way. When a ban is on, notice comes by 4 p.m. and the street must be clear from midnight to 7 a.m.

My car slid into the ditch on Wheeler Boulevard. Who do I call?

If anyone is hurt or the car blocks traffic, call 911. If you're safe and the car looks fine, call us for a winch-out. If the car is damaged, plan on a tow to a shop.

How fast do I have to go past a tow truck on Route 2?

Half the posted limit when it's stopped with amber lights flashing. You must also move over a lane if you can do it safely.

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: City of Moncton winter parking, City of Moncton snow clearing, GNB winter driving safety, NB Motor Vehicle Act, New Brunswick 511, Environment Canada climate normals.

Breaking Down Near Moncton in a Nor'easter: A Step-by-Step Plan