Blizzard knocks out power across Newfoundland

A raging blizzard pounding eastern Newfoundland today has knocked out power supplies for most of the island.

The storm, already considered the worst in at least several years, has led to cancelled flights, closed schools, docked ferries and the shutdown of public services across the eastern half of Newfoundland.

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro said most of its transmission lines were having problems, causing outages that spread far from the eye of the storm.

Power to as many as 75,000 households and businesses were cut off during outages that started after 6:30 a.m. NT., with problems then only getting worse.

High winds, often topping 100 km/h, have caused havoc with the power system, and have rendered many highways and roads unsafe for driving.

A cab became stuck in heavy snow on Prince Philip Drive near Confederation Building in St. John's. (Adam Walsh/CBC)

The storm tore roofing from a Dominion supermarket in St. John's, and prompted the Newfoundland and Labrador government to tie up ferries that served domestic routes in much of the island.

The storm was still gathering strength Friday morning, as Environment Canada not only extended its blizzard warning for the eastern half of the island, but issued a new blowing snow warning for areas as far west as Gander, where schools are also closed for the day.

The storm was most harshly felt on the Avalon Peninsula, although its effects have been felt in southern and central Newfoundland as well.

St. John's International Airport shut down its runways for the day. Police and other officials urged motorists to stay off most roads.

The blizzard is expected to drop at least 70 centimetres of snow in parts of the Avalon Peninsula, including St. John's, before it winds down starting Friday afternoon and into the evening.

Even snowplows getting stuck

The storm has been so bad that even emergency services personnel have been having difficulty doing their jobs.

Heavy drifting of snow caused an ambulance to become stuck on a street in St. John's on Friday morning. (Mark Quinn/CBC)

"I've kind of given up now," said RCMP Sgt. Marc Couloumbe, who has been unable to leave his own home.

"Unfortunately, now the snowplow is stuck right in front of my driveway, so I can't even get out," said Couloumbe, who lives on the Avalon Peninsula's Southern Shore, south of St. John's.

As well, an ambulance became stuck in the centre of St. John's.

Driving conditions hazardous

Dale Foote, a meteorologist with Environment Canada's weather office, said the high winds and snow drifting are the hallmarks of the storm.

"To be honest, the wind is so high that I don't know how you'd get a sense of snowfalls," he said.

"If the winds pick up, it's going to be even harder to get a sense of actual measurements."

CBC reporter Zach Goudie said roads in the St. John's area were filled with drifts and blowing snow, and that early shovelling was moot.

"It doesn't make much of a difference," said Goudie, adding that driving conditions are hazardous.

"Visibility is next to nothing. Everyone is being asked to stay off the roads unless they absolutely have to [drive]."

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