Winter storm closes schools throughout the Maritimes before heading to N.L.

Much of Newfoundland and Labrador were under weather warnings Monday. A resident is seen clearing snow on the streets of St. John's, N.L., on March 8, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

ST. JOHN’S — A winter storm that snarled morning commutes and closed schools in parts of the Maritimes on Monday was forecast to hit Newfoundland and Labrador later in the day and into Tuesday.

Environment Canada has put all of Newfoundland under winter storm or wind warnings, along with southern parts of Labrador. Blizzard-like conditions are expected in some areas.

Parts of western Newfoundland are expected to see between 20 and 40 centimetres of snow with wind gusts of up to 120 kilometres per hour. Bay St. George and Corner Brook should see snow turning to ice pellets and freezing rain. 

The south coast and eastern areas of the island, including the Avalon Peninsula, are under wind warnings with gusts of up to 130 km/h expected in the south. 

Southern Labrador is expected to see 25 to 50 centimetres of snow with the highest amounts forecast in Red Bay and Port Hope Simpson. 

Most schools across the province closed on Monday or had delayed opening. Marine Atlantic cancelled all ferry crossings.

The system moved through the Maritimes overnight Sunday and into Monday with schools closed or delayed in parts of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

RELATED STORIES:

• Mix of snow, strong winds, and freezing rain closes Maritime schools
• A list of Maritime school closures for Monday

Morning and afternoon runs of the ferry between Digby, N.S., and Saint John, N.B., were scrapped. 

All of Cape Breton along with Pictou and Antigonish counties on the Nova Scotia mainland were under wind warnings. Nova Scotia Community College campuses in Truro and Amherst delayed their opening. 

Health centres across P.E.I also delayed opening Monday, and Holland College’s West Prince Campus was closed for the day. Kings County in the western part of the Island was under a wind warning. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 12, 2026