Avalon Peninsula braces for first major storm of the year, with up to 25 cm of snow forecast
The St. John's area is expected see its first snowstorm of the year Tuesday, with as much as 25 centimetres of snow predicted to fall on Tuesday.
The entire Avalon Peninsula is under a winter storm warning from Environment Canada, forecasting between 15 and 25 centimetres of snow for the region. Winds will be gusting up to 60 km/h.
The adverse weather is expected to start around 6 a.m. Tuesday.
"Looking at the forecast numbers for the other models, there's a bit of a disagreement, but 15 to 25 centimetres is a pretty good bet," CBC meteorologist Ashley Brauweiler said Monday morning.
"That will depend on where you are. It'll also depend on the track. At this point the forecast models are tracking the storm offshore but we're still going to see that snow hit at least the eastern half of the island."
While the Avalon hasn't seen much snow this winter, Brauweiler said the snow should continue into Tuesday evening.
"It'll start in the morning and then it will pick up in intensity into mid-morning and then into early afternoon. This is also when the winds will start to pick up," she said.
"I think tomorrow morning and afternoon, travel will not be very nice across the Avalon."
The storm should taper to flurries by the evening, said Brauweiler, with wind dying down to around 30 to 50 km/h. She said blowing snow is still expected at that time.
Wednesday will bring scattered flurries and temperatures dipping to –5 C, while Thursday and Friday are shaping up to be nice days with no precipitation and a mix of sun and cloud.
Meteorologist Dale Foote, of Environment Canada's Gander weather office, said it's possible the weather will warm up on Saturday or Sunday, which could melt away much of the snow by Monday.
Storm prep
Municipalities around the Avalon were busy Monday preparing for the impending storm.
Lynnann Winsor, deputy city manager of public works for the City of St. John's, said city staff were preparing equipment for Tuesday's weather.
She asked residents to keep their distance from snowplows and other city vehicles to allow workers to do their jobs.
"If you don't have to venture out during the storm, it is best to stay home," Windsor said.
Windsor said the city will decide later Monday whether waste collection will go ahead, while the City of Mount Pearl has already cancelled Tuesday's garbage and recycling collection. In a tweet, the city said those who are impacted can have garbage collected on Wednesday. The Town of Conception Bay South has postponed collection to Saturday.
"All available staff and equipment will be out and we will be working 24 hours a day as required while it's snowing," said Windsor.
