Halifax-area police responded to dozens of crashes as the first major snowfall of the year hit the province.

Const. Brian Palmeter told CBC News police had received 60 calls about accidents in their jurisdiction. He said Wednesday afternoon that approximately 40 of those incidents had been resolved, with several more calls still in the queue.

The snow started to fall early Wednesday, blanketing the mainland as the storm moved east. Up to 35 centimetres of snow was expected in inland areas. People along the coast were told to expect up to 40 millimetres of rain.

Thousands of students had the day off. Some school boards cancelled classes ahead of the storm, while others gave students the afternoon off.

Margo Tait, the superintendent of the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board, said the decision to close schools and keep buses off the roads was made about two hours before the first sign of snow.

"It could have been clear sailing to bring the children in, but then we would have to think about how to get them home safely," she told CBC News.

"We made the decision not to bring the kids in and it turned out to be the right decision because in my neck of the woods in Annapolis County, it was snowing by seven o'clock."

Cpl. Scott MacRae, an RCMP spokesman, said there were at least 30 crashes and collisions in the Halifax region in a 90-minute period Wednesday morning.

"Slow down, take your time," he urged drivers.

MacRae said most of the crashes were minor, but one man was taken to hospital after firefighters pried him out of a car.

In Berwick, one truck driver lost control and hit a power pole on the opposite side of the road.

"It just caught the edge of the pavement and even though I was in four-wheel drive, I just spun out," said Nicole Cross.

A truck driver gets a tow from a friendly driver in Halifax. CBC"I tried to correct and there was no going back and I couldn't avoid the pole."

Officials with the Halifax Regional Municipality said that as of 4:00 p.m. AT, about 15 centimetres of wet snow had fallen in the city. They said 85 plow and salt trucks were working on the roads, mainly on priority arterial and transit routes.

The city said 45 additional loaders would work to clear local streets beginning at midnight.

Several flights were delayed or cancelled at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

Snowfall warnings remain in effect as well for southern New Brunswick and central and eastern Prince Edward Island.