HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) – Maine utility crews pitched in to help restore power to thousands of Atlantic Canadians on Tuesday, a day after a blizzard dumped nearly two feet of snow on some parts of the region.

The ocean storm grazed most of Maine, leaving only a couple of inches in most areas but more than a foot in parts of Washington County.

But it escalated to a blizzard as it headed to the Maritime Provinces.

Blizzard warnings remained in effect for western Cape Breton and the western coast of Newfoundland on Tuesday, as high winds and whiteout conditions were reported in those areas.

Meanwhile, nine Central Maine Power Co. repair crews set out of Nova Scotia to help it restore power to thousands of customers left in the dark by downed power lines. CMP spokesman John Carroll said Nova Scotia Power requested the help, and CMP was glad to assist.

“This storm just grazed CMP’s service area, so we were spared the kind of damage experienced in Nova Scotia,” said Carroll.

Nova Scotia Power said more than 4,000 of its customers were without electricity in the areas of Cheticamp, Margaree and Inverness County on Tuesday.

“It’s the isolation, the deep, deep snow and the storm that’s continuing in that area as we speak,” said utility spokeswoman Robyn McIsaac. “Those conditions are making it difficult to reach that area.”

A number of areas in the western part of Prince Edward Island were also believed to be without power.

Environment Canada said conditions were generally improving a day after a storm with wind gusts of more than 60 mph blasted the region and caused scattered power outages in rural areas.

Most of Atlantic Canada was experiencing sunny, but bitterly cold conditions.

A windchill warning was issued for northern New Brunswick, where temperatures were expected to dip well below zero.

Meanwhile, a coast guard vessel was preparing to help an offshore supply vessel off Sable Island that was damaged in the storm.

Large waves knocked out windows and power to the supply boat Maersk Gabarus during Monday’s storm.

Exxon Mobil Canada spokesman Allan Jeffers said vessel eventually regained power and was able to wait out conditions southwest of Sable Island. No injuries were reported.

The coast guard vessel planned to assist the Gabarus back to Halifax, although the vessels weren’t expected to arrive until early Wednesday morning.

Jeffers said a second supply vessel, the Venture Sea, decided to head back to Halifax on Monday night because of the rough conditions.

In Nova Scotia, power crews were waiting to use a helicopter to help locate problems in isolated rural areas.

“We were trying to get a helicopter in the air this morning but the high winds and whiteout conditions made that impossible,” utility spokeswoman McIsaac said.

He said several thousand other customers were without power in the province’s northeast, Annapolis Valley and South Shore.

She said extra crews would be brought in from New Brunswick in addition to Maine to help with the restoration effort.