Heavy snow and fierce winds batter the Avalon Peninsula overnight, leaving hundreds without power and forcing recreation facilities in the metro region to delay openings or close entirely.
Power Outages Across Key Areas
Newfoundland Power reports nearly 200 customers in St. John’s Confederation Heights area without electricity, with crews already on site addressing the issue. Additional outages affect just over 200 customers along Salmonier Line and around 338 in Bunyan’s Cove, where response teams are en route.
Forecast Predicts More Snow and High Winds
Environment Canada meteorologist Veronica Sullivan indicates snow will persist throughout the day with gradual improvement. On the Avalon, another 15 centimeters of accumulation is expected atop existing totals. Stations in Paradise report 30 centimeters so far, while St. John’s Airport logs 15 centimeters.
Winds remain intense from the north at 80 to 100 km/h, severely limiting visibility. Sullivan advises avoiding travel: “Definitely not a day to be out traveling if you can avoid that.”
Widespread Closures and Warnings
Several Olympic gold medal hockey watch parties face cancellation. The City of St. John’s and Mount Pearl delay recreation facility openings due to conditions, while Conception Bay South closes its facilities for the rest of the day.
An orange winter storm warning covers the southeastern Avalon Peninsula, forecasting 10 to 15 more centimeters of snow and sustained high winds. Wind warnings extend to central and northeastern Newfoundland with gusts up to 100 km/h. Blowing snow advisories stretch from Grand Falls-Windsor to the western Avalon, though snowfall totals there will be lighter.
The Green Bay-White Bay region holds a winter storm warning for two to four centimeters, expected to lift by mid-day. Southwestern Newfoundland faces wind warnings with gusts to 100 km/h but minimal snow. Sullivan notes: “The good news for them is they’re not really expected to get much snow out of this system.”
