Schools and services remain closed, with storm warnings still in effect
Weather advisories and winter storm warnings remain in effect for much of Newfoundland and Labrador on Thursday, with schools and some services closed for the morning. (Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada)
Weather advisories and winter storm warnings remain in effect for much of Newfoundland and Labrador on Thursday, with schools and some services closed for the morning.
Schools that fall under NLSchools — formerly the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District — in the St. John's metro region are closed for the day, along with St. Bonaventure's College, Lakecrest, École Rocher-du-Nord and Baltimore School in Ferryland.
Memorial University has announced that its campuses, including the Marine Institute, Signal Hill campuses and the childcare centre, will remain closed for the rest of the day. As a result, all evening classes are cancelled.
Metrobus and GoBus services are cancelled all day Thursday and city facilities in St. John's and Mount Pearl, including community centres and city halls, will also remain closed for the rest of the day.
A St. John's city's spokesperson has also announced the closure extends to the residential drop-off at Robin Hood Bay. However, the waste management facility will remain open.
The City of Mount Pearl also announced that their recreation facilities will remain closed until further notice. An update will be provided at 3:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the city has stated that their garbage and recycling collection will be postponed.
City of Paradise facilities, including the town hall and the Double Ice Complex, will remain closed and garbage and recycling is cancelled for the day.
The provincial government had a delayed opening, and by late morning announced government offices would be closed for the rest of the day.
Courts in St. John's, including the Sheriff's Office and Family Justice Services, will also stay closed for the day.
Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation stores in St. John's, Mount Pearl, Paradise and Conception Bay South will also have a delayed opening, with an update to come.
Clarenville High School, Clarenville Middle School, Heritage Collegiate in Lethbridge, Riverside Elementary in Clarenville and Anthony Paddon Elementary in Musgravetown are also closed for the morning, with an update at 10:30 a.m.
Much of the province is digging out after heavy snowfall on Wednesday. Snow is expected to continue Thursday, with the Avalon Peninsula expected to see another five to 10 centimetres, according to Rodney Barney, a meteorologist with Environment Canada's Gander weather office.
Environment Canada says total snowfall for eastern and northeastern Newfoundland, from St. John's to the Bay of Exploits, will be 40 to 60 centimetres of snow.
Maximum wind gusts for the region are 80 km/h, according to Environment Canada.
Winter storm warnings for the Burin Peninsula and the southern Avalon have ended, said Barney, with only about one to two centimetres of snow expected to fall Thursday in the region.
Barney said snow has hammered the Gander area and that more is on the way Thursday, with a total of 50 to 75 centimetres expected for the region before the snow tapers off Friday.
Postville and Makkovik are also under a winter storm warning, with a total snowfall of 50 centimetres expected along the coast to 100 centimetres or more inland and in areas with higher terrain.
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