Snow squalls continue to produce reduced visibility, dangerous driving in Newfoundland

Thursday, January 9, 2014, 12:14 PM -

First freezing rain and damaging winds, now snow squalls and blowing snow. 

Heavy snow and reduced visibility were reported in many areas on Wednesday. 

Visibility was so low on a stretch of the Avalon Peninsula that a regional highway was closed Wednesday morning.

RCMP described other roads in the area as "totally impassable" and snowplows were also temporarily pulled off the Trans-Canada Highway between Corner Brook and Stephenville because of the poor conditions.

"Snow squalls will persist today and have the potential to produce significant snowfall accumulations and near-zero visibilities in heavy snow and/blowing snow," said Environment Canada in their warning early Thursday.

The stormy weather resulted in more problems on the road as well. 

TCH #closed due to stormy weather and numerous collisions between #DeerLake and #BirchyNarrows, N.L. this morning.

— Chris Murphy TWN (@chris_m_twn) January 9, 2014

CLASSES RESUME

Classes at public and post-secondary institutions finally resumed Thursday after a series of rolling blackouts prompted several closures across the island.

Education Minister Clyde Jackman says school board officials have been working hard to make sure the schools are warm and ready for students.

The snow squalls however, prompted school closures in Conception Bay, the southern Avalon Peninsula and in some west coast communities on Thursday.