A major winter storm has brought the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland to a standstill, with widespread power outages, cancelled services, and treacherous travel conditions. Metrobus suspended all service for Monday, February 23, as crews continue to grapple with heavy snowfall and strong winds. The storm, which began pummeling the region on Sunday, has left thousands without power and prompted closures across the metro area, impacting everything from urgent care to Olympic watch parties.
The disruption to public transit is a significant blow to commuters, with Metrobus stating an update will be provided at noon on Monday regarding potential service resumption. The severe weather has created hazardous conditions for travel, prompting warnings from both the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) and the RCMP urging residents to stay off the roads if possible. “Crews are working to clear the roads but are experiencing whiteout conditions due to strong winds. If you don’t need to be out, we suggest staying inside until conditions improve,” the RNC stated on social media.
Power Outages and Infrastructure Strain
Thousands of Newfoundland Power customers are currently without electricity. As of Sunday evening, approximately 1,500 customers in Kelligrews were affected, with hundreds more experiencing outages in other parts of the metro region, including over 200 on Salmonier Line and nearly 500 in Heart’s Content-Fresh Perlican. Newfoundland Power reported that blizzard conditions are impacting the electrical system across eastern Newfoundland, making repairs challenging in some areas due to impassable roads. Crews are working to restore power where safe to do so, with an estimated restoration time of 7:00 p.m. For Kelligrews. Earlier outages affecting thousands in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s and on the Burin Peninsula have reportedly been resolved.
Municipal Services Disrupted
The impact of the storm extends beyond transportation and power. The City of St. John’s has closed roads in the Galway area and a portion of Cochrane Pond Road due to drifting snow and reduced visibility. Recreation facilities in St. John’s, Mount Pearl, and Conception Bay South are all closed for the day. Garbage and recycling collection in Mount Pearl has also been cancelled. The Town of Paradise has reported accumulating over 120 centimeters of snow in the past five days, and crews are prioritizing the clearing of main roads like Topsail Road, St. Thomas Line, and Kenmount Road. Officials are urging residents to stay off the roads to facilitate snow clearing operations.
Ongoing Storm and Forecast
Environment Canada has issued an orange winter storm warning for the southeastern Avalon Peninsula, forecasting an additional 10 to 15 centimeters of snow and continued high winds. Meteorologist Veronica Sullivan told CBC News that winds will continue to gust between 80 and 100 km/h, significantly reducing visibility. “Definitely not a day to be out traveling if you can avoid that,” she said. While the snow is expected to gradually ease throughout the day, conditions will remain challenging. Blowing snow advisories are also in effect from Grand Falls-Windsor down to the Avalon Peninsula, though snowfall totals are expected to be lower in those areas. Southwestern Newfoundland is under a wind warning, with gusts up to 100 km/h expected to continue throughout the day.
The Urgent Care Centre on Stavanger Drive in St. John’s remains closed for the remainder of the day due to the storm conditions. Even Olympic celebrations have been impacted, with several watch parties for the gold medal hockey game cancelled. Residents are encouraged to monitor updates from Newfoundland Power regarding power restoration efforts and to heed the warnings from law enforcement and municipal authorities.
As conditions are expected to persist through Sunday evening, and potentially into Tuesday for areas in southwestern Newfoundland, residents are advised to remain vigilant and prioritize safety. The next update from Metrobus regarding service resumption is scheduled for noon on Monday, February 23.
What are your experiences with the storm? Share your stories and photos in the comments below, and please share this article with anyone who may be affected.
