Friday, January 22nd 2021, 4:00 pm - A quick, but potent storm has dropped 25+ cm of snow over eastern Newfoundland, with strong winds creating dangerous blizzard-like conditions.
Winter storm warnings were lifted across Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula Friday morning, but blowing snowing and difficult travel lingered through much of the morning, thanks to strong winds.
The storm packed a real punch as it ramped up across the region on Thursday, prompting many schools in the St. John's area to close several hours ahead of regular dismissal time. Classes didn't resume on Friday morning either, as schools and several municipal buildings delayed their openings until 10 a.m. The City of St. John's closed its facilities at 2 p.m. on Thursday, with Metrobus stopping services at 5 p.m.
By Thursday afternoon and early evening, impressive snowfall rates of 2-3 cm per hour were reported in St. John's, making for near impossible travel amid the quickly accumulating snow. By the early morning hours on Friday, 25 cm of snow had already been reported at St. John's International Airport, with snowfall totals continuing to climb.
LOOK BACK: Revisiting how St. John's began 2020, see the snowstorm that engulfed the city
The howling winds, with gusts up to to 80 km/h, caused dangerous blizzard-like conditions into Friday morning, prompting authorities to pull snow plows from many Avalon highways "due to whiteout conditions and for the safety of plow operators." A number of travel warnings were also in effect for highways throughout the region by Thursday night. A 24-hour parking restriction began at 6 p.m. in St. John's on Thursday, in an effort to allow for easy and safe snow removal through the day on Friday. Provincial plows were back on the roads Friday morning.
@MurphTWN @NateTWN @weathernetwork @KMacTWN #ShareYourWeather. @OrangestoreNL . At the Donovan’s kenmount road North Atlantic store . #NLwx #nltraffic several vehicles had issues with wipers either coming off or completely iced over . pic.twitter.com/e64BViK0ve
— Colin Lane (@ColinLa709) January 21, 2021
By early Friday, drivers were still being urged to consider postponing any non-essential travel however, as the strong winds will continue to cause reduced visibility in blowing snow. Snow totals in some areas could officially reach 30-40 cm by the time all is said and done, making this the biggest brush with heavy snow since last year's crippling blizzard. Conditions will continue to gradually improve through the day on Friday, as the snow ends and the winds die off.
Here's a look at how Thursday's quick, but potent storm unravelled over eastern Newfoundland, and some of the aftermath on Friday:
All cleaned up till the next one! #Nlwx it’s beer 🍻 time! Cheers and have a great weekend! pic.twitter.com/pvpRiMwITD
— Ken Pinsent (@kdog_NL) January 22, 2021
After the blizzard... The sun ☀️ Time to enjoy... and shovel 🤩❄️ #NLwx #StJohn's pic.twitter.com/jjYlLwx5Kp
— Caroline Lotout (@CaroGeology) January 22, 2021
So I may have spoken too soon-through the vagaries of wind, drifting, downhill plowed, & snow lottery, I think we had more snow to shovel our vehicle out this morning than during early #nlwx #snowmaggedon pic.twitter.com/NsIzY5LzqJ
— Dr. TA Loeffler (@taloeffler) January 22, 2021
There is no better sound than that of a neighbour making your day so much better. Thanks neighbour #kindness #nlwx #greatneighbours #yyt pic.twitter.com/7KgDhTbdb3
— Claudette B 🇨🇦 (@ClaudetteCVB) January 22, 2021
What do you do after the first blizzard of the year?.....play in the snow of course! 🥶❄️❄️#nlwx #funinthesnow pic.twitter.com/ykG8abT6l6
— Kim Wilson (@BCE3Wilson) January 22, 2021
Such an amazing difference overnight! We're now in a Winter Wonderland! It's my birthday and I got to sleep in a little because school is cancelled due to the storm. :)#nlwx #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/bcHABFjHhV
— Mark Gray 🇨🇦 (@GrayMarker99) January 22, 2021
Nah...not much of a snowstorm tonight. Debating whether or not I'll stay up to watch the Habs. Probably will have school in the AM. #nlwx #ShareYourWeather #bonavista pic.twitter.com/HWNc1LtPSt
— Mark Gray 🇨🇦 (@GrayMarker99) January 22, 2021
The storm rages on in St. John’s! #nlwx @marystordy pic.twitter.com/P4CxwUeeyF
— J Doyle (@doyle_j) January 21, 2021
Clean-up is going to take awhile. My little dog hates this, but my black Lab loved it. #nlwx pic.twitter.com/cxo3epZFhc
— Reta 🇨🇦 (@senurrreta) January 22, 2021
Blustery evening in Mt. Pearl @weathernetwork @CBCNL @CBCNews #nlwx #snowstorm #typicalJanuary @Mount_Pearl pic.twitter.com/ZYxOdZIhD8
— Tanya Butler (@tan4atoonie) January 22, 2021
12 hours of accumulation / blowing & drifting (6pm-6am). Front door was the exit door this morning! #nlwx pic.twitter.com/Xik9VZbO2S
— Gavan Watson (@gavatron) January 22, 2021
The snow is as high as the back of the SUV.😣#nlwx #YYT #Newfoundland pic.twitter.com/Eo6EYRMyYn
— Shannon Reardon (@ShannonR709) January 22, 2021
Lots of #nlwx snow accumulation downtown. Very little plow activity so my bet is on a delayed opening tomorrow. Make sure you stretch before you pick up that shovel in the morning! pic.twitter.com/oV4geGmYQe
— Robyn LeGrow (@rlegrow) January 22, 2021
A handful more photos from this evening's mini-trek through some downtown streets. I should have known better than to walk with my back to the wind first. #nltraffic #nlwx pic.twitter.com/50BFA70JCl
— Earl Noble (@Noble41) January 22, 2021
Be sure to check back as we continue to monitor the active storm set-up across Atlantic Canada.
Thumbnail image courtesy: Claudette B
