Weather reprieve for Newfoundland before second system moves in Monday

If you're anywhere on the island of Newfoundland on Saturday, Environment Canada has a word of warning.

Special weather statements are in effect for every region of the island, from Port Saunders and the Straits in the northwest to the southeast Avalon for Monday and Tuesday: significant snowfall, strong winds and blowing snow.

It's set to come just after the island got hit with wind and a precipitation mixture running the gamut from rain through sleet and snow.

• Spring storm: Blizzard conditions drop up to 50 centimetres of snow

Some areas of the island got hit worse than others Friday. 

Juliana Geertsema of Environment Canada's Gander weather office said Saturday morning that the town got 57 centimetres of snow between Thursday and Saturday morning, with nearby La Scie getting 64 centimetres.

"We have snow and blowing snow with about one mile of visibility. It doesn't look too nice outside," she told CBC Radio's Weekend AM.

Flurries, including in the St. John's area, are expected to taper off tonight, and Newfoundland will have a bit of a reprieve Sunday before a low-pressure system off the U.S. seaboard tracks north into Newfoundland Monday.

Few hours of sun before next system moves in

"We actually have clearing overnight tonight, so you might see a few hours of sun tomorrow morning before we cloud over with the next system," she said.

"Tomorrow night, the snow will be starting in the southeast and then spreading through the rest of Newfoundland by Monday. With that, we'll have lots of heavy snow, especially northeastern Newfoundland, strong winds and blowing snow."

The Avalon, Burin and Bonavista peninsulas could change over to freezing rain and rain before changing back to snow Monday night, said Geertsema

"Put some salt down and make sure that you actually go out and get your groceries. Make sure that you're prepared for the weather," she said.