Metrobus, NLC stores, municipal and provincial buildings in parts of the Avalon close down amid winter storm

Municipal and provincial buildings, city buses, and Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation stores in some parts of the Avalon Peninsula have shut down Friday afternoon, as the region gets slammed with another winter storm.

Environment Canada issued another round of winter weather warnings for the area — a winter storm warning covering the St. John's region and the southeast Avalon Peninsula, and a blowing snow advisory for the Avalon Peninsula north and southwest areas.

CBC meteorologist Ashley Brauweiler says the heaviest snow will fall over the eastern Avalon. Expected snowfall is about 10 to 20 centimetres.

Closures

In St. John's, Metrobus and GoBus service is ending at 3 p.m.

NLC stores in St. John's, Mount Pearl, Paradise and Conception Bay South are all closing at 2 p.m., along with the corporation's head office, distribution centre and Rock Spirits.

Memorial University closed St. John's campuses, including the Marine Institute, Signal Hill and child-care centre at 1 p.m.

In addition, the provincial government closed its offices in the St. John's metro region.

St. John's courts and the sheriff's office are also closed.

Conception Bay South closed it's facilities at 1 p.m., which includes the town hall, recreation complex, the CBS arena and Robert French Memorial Stadium.

Mount Pearl is closing city hall, the depot and recreation centres at 2 p.m., and The Rooms has also closed for the remainder of the day.

"I think the most of the snow will fall right on the eastern edge of the Avalon and then we'll see a lot less snow as you head further west," Brauweiler said.

She said the western portion of the Avalon could see five to 10 centimetres of snow, and the Bonavista to Burin regions will likely see between two to five centimetres.

Brauweiler said the snowfall will be heaviest in the afternoon.

"We could be talking about snowfall rates as high as one to maybe two or even three centimetres an hour falling this afternoon. And then eventually, as we get to later this evening, that snow will taper off."

This afternoon, Brauweiler said the winds will be gusting between 60 to 80 kilometres an hour.

Visibility will be reduced due to a combination of snowfall and strong winds later in the afternoon, she said.

"But the weather will improve as we head through the overnight," she said.

Brauweiler said there is good news coming, as the weekend is looking to be "lovely" though chilly.

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