CORNER BROOK — Heavy rains caused disruption in services for people on the west coast of the island Monday.
Marine Atlantic passengers were forced to reschedule their plans thanks to tropical storm Leslie.
The ferry service has cancelled crossings to and from Port aux Basque and North Sydney for yesterday, all of today’s crossings and including tomorrow’s 11:30 a.m. sailing. The crossing from Argentia to North Sydney was cancelled for yesterday and today.
The cancellations are precautionary, said company spokesperson Darrell Mercer, as swells are expected to reach five to seven metres in the Cabot Strait and 10 metres along the Argentia route.
Mercer said approximately 1,000 passengers have been affected, and Marine Atlantic is hoping to resume sailing Wednesday, but it is unknown if further delays will occur.
While, water travel was impacted, the Deer Lake Regional Airport reported no cancellations on Monday, and is not anticipating Leslie will result in any schedule changes.
Some students in the region got an early storm day Monday when Western School District sent home the approximately 1,300 students from school early. With a risk of road conditions deteriorating, the district felt it was necessary to dismiss students while the roads were safe for travel, said Jeff Thompson, assistant director of education (programming).
Students were dismissed from four schools on the Port au Port Peninsula, because nearby roads were closed by because of flooding, while three schools in the Bay of Islands closed because of the south shore highway being washed out.
No schools in the city were closed, however Corner Brook High School students who live on the south shore were sent home early.
All Western district schools on the island are closed this morning. Officials will update the situation at 11 a.m.
Meanwhile, services in the Port au Port area were disrupted Monday due to flooding in the area. The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services’ Piccadilly office closed for the afternoon, while medical clinics in Degrau and Lourdes and the Community Health office in Piccadilly closed down.
