First winter storm of 2020 could bring up to 40 cm of snow for eastern Newfoundland
Burin, Bonavista, Clarenville and the Avalon Peninsula will be affected
The snow is falling on the Avalon Peninsula as parts of Newfoundland are in for another dumping of snow, with a winter storm warning and up to 40 centimetres of snow in the forecast.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador meteorologist Ashley Brauweiler said a significant snowfall is expected overnight Sunday, with high winds starting in the early morning hours on Monday.
"By the time six o'clock tonight rolls around, we should have anywhere between five to 10 centimetres on the ground. The snowfall rates from there pick up," she said.
"Between six and midnight, probably 20 to as much as 25 centimetres will be on the ground, and after midnight, that's when those winds really ramp up."
Brauweiler said wind gusts of up to 100 km/h, plus the 30 to 40 centimetres of snow on the ground will likely make for messy conditions on Monday morning.
It will not be nice out there.- Ashley Brauweiler
"Combine the heavy snowfall amounts with those strong winds, that's when we're expecting to see the worst conditions as far as visibilites go, it will not be nice out there," she said.
"We'll likely see some blizzard conditions at times — wouldn't be surprised if we do verify blizzard conditions for a couple hours, that just means we'll see visibilities less than 400 metres."
The snow should begin to taper off around 6 a.m. and change to flurries by noon Monday, Brauweiler said, but the winds will continue.
Environment Canada meteorologist Jody Boyd said all that snow will cover much of southeastern Newfoundland.
"By dawn on Monday, we're expecting anywhere from 20 to 40 centimetres to be down over the Burin, Bonavista, Clarenville and the Avalon Peninsula areas," he said.
Boyd said the storm will make for a difficult Monday morning commute.
"The snow will be tapering to flurries during the morning, but the winds are still going to be quite high, which will result in blowing snow and reduced visibilities, and even whiteout conditions over exposed areas," he said.
Boyd said central and western Newfoundland will see some snow, but nothing significant enough to warrant a storm warning.
There is some good news for Tuesday, however.
"After we get through this system, it will quiet down, we may see a few flurries on Tuesday — actually, we should see a few peeks of sun, so it'll be good for cleanup, that's for sure," said Brauweiler.