Even by Newfoundland and Labrador standards, this was an epic one. Winds hit upwards of 160 km/h and 76 cm of new snow fell in parts of the Avalon and Bonavista Peninsulas overnight in a storm that seemed more like a hurricane than a blizzard. Snow drifts buried houses and cars as St. John’s and other nearby communities declared a state of emergency. A statement from the city said the declaration “will remain in effect until further notice… All businesses are ordered to remain closed.”
Not laughing anymore. The snow is piled up so hard against my door the doorbell actually just rang. Okay, I'm laughing a little at that. #BuriedIn #CantGetOut #nlblizzard2020 #PanicTime #TimeToStartDrinking pic.twitter.com/TAPJCTuY2Z
— Jason Sheppard (@Jason_Sheppard_) January 17, 2020
@NatashaFatah our cars disappeared. #nlwx #snowmaggedon2020 #stormageddon2020 #nlstorm pic.twitter.com/XoWCjgSsCi
— Ashley Fitzpatrick (@ashleykf) January 18, 2020
This is one of the major arterial roads into St John's. https://t.co/WeNrRznHkK
— 𝙅𝘼𝙈𝙀𝙎 🤨 𝙈𝘾𝙇𝙀𝙊𝘿 (@jamespmcleod) January 18, 2020
In the Battery area of St. John’s, an avalanche hit a house last night, forcing the evacuation of the neighbourhood. Everyone in the house escaped safely, reported the Telegram.
Homes in the outer battery on Signal Hill in downtown St. John’s being evacuated after heavy snows caused an avalanche that burst into a home. #nlwx pic.twitter.com/KbaLoYtcmx
— David Cochrane (@CochraneCBC) January 18, 2020
The mayor of Bonavista, John Norman, said waves were hitting the third floor of his home last night. Wind gusts were recorded as high as 164 km/h. He told the CBC: “I assumed being one of those residents being close to the water I’d hear something … but to hear it go over your roof and rain down over your roof, it’s quite something.” Environment Canada is warning of a storm surge along the Bonavista Peninsula today with waves as high as 12 m.
More from Twitter:
Reporting on the #nlstorm, @MurphTWN is literally blown over by the blizzard while @VassyKapelos is appropriately horrified. pic.twitter.com/UjLHI4PTSq
— Jake Reid (@JakeAReid) January 17, 2020
I went outside in THIS for THIS. #nlwx #stormageddon2020 #nlweather #nlblizzard2020 #darknl #newfoundland pic.twitter.com/NSuiaCoGrM
— 🏳️🌈Cardeladida🏳️🌈 (@ctrain_nl) January 17, 2020
Somewhere under all this is a row of cars and front doors. This is going to take a while. pic.twitter.com/RGmIeaJfsf
— Bob Hallett (@bobhallett) January 18, 2020
Oh my God…. pic.twitter.com/9Ke65XUwFf
— Leigh Antle (@leigh_antle) January 17, 2020
The fun continues #nl #nlblizzard2020 #downtownstjohns #nlwx pic.twitter.com/5M1VqHaGwL
— F Kennedy (@Floruns) January 18, 2020
New beer fridge? pic.twitter.com/yuYb0tr5I5
— Sr.Elio #JustTheTipp (@Blundon82) January 18, 2020