'We're in the thick of winter,' as blustery weather across N.L. delays schools, travel
Weather warnings are in effect for much of the province
Much of Newfoundland and Labrador is under special weather warnings on Friday, delaying transportation and the opening for schools and government facilities.
Environment Canada has weather warnings for much of the island, with a wind warning and blowing snow advisory for the Avalon Peninsula.
Central and western regions are under a winter storm warning and parts of Labrador, including Nain, are facing a blizzard warning.
CBC meteorologist Ashley Brauweiler said the snowfall is in the process of petering off across the Avalon, but parts of the west coast could see between 30 and 50 centimetres of snow before it stops on Saturday.
This is also the fourth year in a row there was a storm on Valentine's Day, but she said it's a fluke.
"We're in the thick of winter, right? So we've got the jet stream a little bit further south, which often happens," said Brauweiler. "The systems just track across, the jet stream acts like a conveyor belt that moves systems across the world."
Meteorologist Dale Foote said the driving conditions on the Avalon Peninsula "look pretty treacherous."
"Still lots of snow along the east coast. Just changing over now on parts of the Burin to some freezing drizzle. Maybe some ice pellets, but other than that it should be mostly snow continuing for this morning," he said.
He said snow across the province is expected to change into ice pellets and freezing drizzle in the southeast.
"Otherwise, snow for central, western areas in the Great Northern Peninsula," Foote said, which could get up to 15 to 25 centimetres of snow.
"For tonight, flurries or periods of snow everywhere."
Foote said there are also strong winds expected on Saturday, gusting between 80 kilometres per hour up to 110 kilometres per hour.
"And with that, it won't take much to kick up blowing snow," said Foote.
Corner Brook businesses take snow in stride
Some Corner Brook businesses have gotten used to snow on Valentine's Day, but are pushing through on one of the busiest days of their winter season.
Lloyd Nash, co-owner of the Park West restaurant, said 130 reservations remain on the books for Friday, and cancelled reservations were quickly filled by a waitlist of locals.
"Valentine's is a massive night in our industry," Nash said. "We did lose some, but the phone's been ringing all day.... They're a much resilient crowd."
For florist Louise Gillam, the impending snow led to an extra busy couple of days. She and the crew at Holland Nurseries made sure hundreds of bouquets were ready for pickup on Wednesday and Thursday.
"We were going non-stop. So we did all our orders a little early, we got them out a little early, and thank goodness today now, we're caught up," Gillam said.
"For some reason, you know, the weather seems not to want to agree with us. So yes, even at Christmas we were into the same predicament."
Delays
Some schools across the province had delayed openings or full closures Friday, particularly in western and central regions.
Memorial University also announced its St. John's facilities, including its St. John's campuses, Marine Institute and child care centre, would open at 11 a.m. Classes and labs at or after noon would be going ahead.
Metrobus is running, but is telling riders to expect delays.
Travel in and out of the province is also being disrupted.
All Marine Atlantic crossings have been cancelled and flights are also being cancelled or delayed at the St. John's International Airport.
Government facilities are also delaying openings.
The town of Conception Bay South and Mount Pearl all announced delayed openings and their offices and recreational facilities.
Courts in St. John's will opened later in the afternoon, but courts in Harbour Grace, Grand Bank, Clarenville, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor and Stephenville remained closed.
Marble Mountain also closed for the day, writing on Facebook that weather conditions wouldn't allow for ski lifts to be operated safely.
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With files from The St. John’s Morning Show and Colleen Connors