St. John's metro schools closed as winter storm slams parts of Newfoundland
Much of Newfoundland is digging out of a blustery and messy day as another storm slams into the island.
Schools were closed in the metro St. John's area, after NL Schools pre-emptively announced Monday night they would be closed for the morning. Many schools across central Newfoundland were also closed for the day due to the weather.
Environment Canada issued several weather alerts across the island of Newfoundland.
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Orange winter storm warnings and yellow wind warning were in effect for parts of the Avalon Peninsula, with large swaths of central Newfoundland facing yellow winter storm warnings.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, winter storm warnings remained in place for many, but the northern Avalon now faces a wind warning only. Northwesterly gusts could reach between 70 and 100 km/h Tuesday evening.
CBC meteorologist Ashley Brauweiler said the St. John’s area had received 26 centimetres of snow as of around 4 p.m. NT. Gander picked up 2.5 centimetres as of 7 a.m. but by the time the storm wraps, it could reach approximately 30 centimetres or more.
The snow was mixed with ice pellets and freezing rain, while parts of St. John's saw it switch to rain.
She added some areas could pick up 10 millimetres of rain.
Shovellers will want to get out sooner rather than later to clean up from the snowfall, Brauweiler warned.
(CBC/Michel Aspirot)
“Once we do start to see some ice pellets mix in, that means the temperatures are going to warm up, and with that rain it will make that snow a little bit dense this afternoon,” she said.
A fake out
Brauweiler said parts of central Newfoundland could see another 10 centimetres of snow into this evening. Other parts of the province will see warmer temperatures come back down, with flurries possible over the course of Wednesday.
Traffic is also being impacted, with Metrobus taking its buses off the road for the day.
Environment Canada has issued weather warnings for much of Newfoundland on Tuesday. (Darrell Roberts/CBC)
Memorial University kept its St. John's, Marine Institute and Signal Hill campuses closed for the day.
The St. John’s Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the St. John’s provincial court were closed, along with Courts in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor.
Canada Post temporarily suspended service across the Avalon Peninsula, Clarenville area, Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander and Corner Brook.
'Not really pleasant up here'
Snow plow operator Matt Cole said he started work 10 p.m. Monday to try to get ahead of the accumulating snow, working to keep driveways open in the St. John's Galway neighbourhood.
“All night and all morning,” he said.
“It’s not really pleasant up here.”
This recent storm is the top two or three of the year’s storms, he said, but couldn’t say how it placed compared to past winters.
“I don’t even know what’s normal anymore when it comes to winter. The winters are all over the place,” said Cole, adding it also reminds him of winters from his childhood.
Compared to last winter, he said he’s worked well over double the hours this winter.
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Thumbnail courtesy of Darrell Roberts/CBC.
This article was originally published for CBC News. With files from The St. John's Morning Show and Ashley Brauweiler.