The start of the work week in the Corner Brook area has been halted for most as the west coast settles in for a major spring snowstorm.
Schools, including post-secondary institutions, have been closed for the day, as have provincial government offices, as the region deals with about a foot of snow that fell overnight.
The main roads in the city are being cleared, but the side streets will have to wait another while yet.
All City of Corner Brook offices were shut until Tuesday morning. A public meeting of city council scheduled for Monday evening has been rescheduled for Tuesday evening at 7 p.m..
The city’s public transit system has also been shut down for the day. Garbage collection in Corner Brook is still going ahead, though there may be delays in trash being picked up.
Several businesses decided to open as usual.
Corner Brook and much of the rest of western Newfoundland are under blizzard and wind warnings and a snow squall watch.
According to Environment Canada. heavy snowfall combined with very strong winds will continue to produce blizzard conditions with near-zero visibilities today. Total snowfall accumulations are expected to range between 30 and 50 centimetres by this evening, with the highest amounts expected over higher terrain.
Winds will shift by this afternoon, bringing an end to the widespread blizzard conditions. However, snow squalls are then expected to develop, with the potential for localized poor visibilities in squalls.
There were three flights cancelled at Deer Lake Regional Airport Monday morning. Marine Atlantic’s ferry fleet has been docked until Monday night, while the MV Apollo won’t be making any crossings of the Strait of Belle Isle today because of weather conditions.