Newfoundland: States of emergency declared, vehicles ordered off the roads

A powerful winter system, which met official 'weather bomb' criteria early Friday, will continue to intensify throughout the day, bringing Newfoundland to a standstill amid dangerous blizzard conditions and significant snow. Widespread warnings are in effect, as officials declare states of emergency, including in the City of St. John's. More on the timing of this system and when the most damaging winds are expected, below.

• Newfoundland to see 130+ km/h winds, 40-70+ cm of snow, lasting to Saturday in worst-hit areas
• Blizzard conditions linger well into Saturday
• 9-12 metre storm surge for parts of the Newfoundland coast
• Winter storm warnings in effect for eastern Nova Scotia, risk of 10-20 cm for Cape Breton
• Closures and cancellations
• Stay aware of ALERTS in your area

As of 11 a.m. Friday morning, St. John's Mayor Danny Breen declared a state of emergency, which will remain in effect until further notice. Just one hour later, the City of Mount Pearl and Town of Paradise declared a state of emergency of their own.

"All businesses are ordered to close; shops closing regulations are suspended and all vehicles except emergency vehicles are prohibited from using City streets," St. John's officials said in a statement. "Please return home and do not drive until the state of emergency has been lifted."

The storm is so powerful that the Newfoundland and Labrador government has also pulled its plows from regional highways.

"From Thursday at 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. on Friday, the system dropped 26 millibars in 15 hours, surpassing “weather bomb” criteria over the east coast," says Weather Network meteorologist Matt Grinter. "And this system will only get stronger today."

Epic snowfall rates of more than 10 cm per hour were falling in St. John's at times through Friday morning. By the lunch hour, over 30 cm was already on the ground in the city.

Widespread warnings are in effect with the hardest-hit areas of the province in line to see between 40-70+ cm of snow, lasting through early Saturday in more eastern areas, including the Avalon Peninsula.

Heavy snow, significant drifts piling up in Kenmount Terrace (Cindy Stone)

Schools were quick to shut their doors in eastern and central regions early Friday as rapidly deteriorating conditions made for poor and dangerous travel before the morning commute. Metrobus also cancelled its public transit service, with most flights cancelled at St. John's International Airport as well.

The province is in the midst of a potentially historic storm.

Even more damaging will be the winds with this system. They'll be ramping up through the afternoon hours, before peaking Friday evening.

The eastern and northeastern shores of the island, including the Avalon, should brace for epic wind gusts of 90-130+ km/h, and potentially reaching 140+ km/h for areas along the northeast.