Get ready for ripple effect of ferry cancellations, as wintry mix expected all weekend

With a weekend storm brewing for this weekend, Marine Atlantic says there will likely be ferry delays, leading to possible shortages of fresh produce and other goods.

The company expects crossings for Friday all the way through to Monday will be affected by awintry mix of weather.

That could leave commercial customers unable to cross between Port aux Basques and North Sydney.

"We carry the majority of the perishables that come into Newfoundland and Labrador," saidDarrellMercer, with Marine Atlantic. "Overall, we carry about 50 per cent of the goods into the province."

Marine Atlantic advised their commercial customers of a possible shutdown earlier this week, in an effort to give them time to adjust their schedules, andget trucks across the Cabot Strait earlier.

"Of course, when we see an extended shut down, we know that there will be an impact and this shutdown is particularly long," he told CBC's St. John's Morning Show."Usually we'll see a day, maybe two, if a major storm system's coming in. This one has the potential of four days, so it is one of the longer storm systemswe've seen in recent memory."

Environment Canada has special weather statements in effect for most of Newfoundland and Labrador starting Friday.

Snow, freezing rain, rain and strengthening wind is set to start around noon Friday for the southwestern coast of Newfoundland, spreading across the island through the day.

• Weather: Get updates and more from Ashley Brauweiler's live blog

Rain will switch to snow throughout Saturday, and the high winds are expected to last all the way through to Sunday overnight and even into Monday.

Part of island living

Some in the food industry say of course, there is an inconvenience element to weather-related ferry delays, but that's parfor the course given the geography.

"We liveon an island isolated from the rest of the country," said Jeremy Charles, chef and co-ownerof the Merchant Tavern and Raymonds restaurants in St. John's.

He said it's a good reminder of why local food sources should be a priority.

"Unfortunately, we are in a situation where we depend on food from outside of the province which is something I think we need to draw awareness to, and support local and be going back to our gardens and farmers and supporting ourselves."

The Colemansgrocery chain doesn't expect its shelves to be empty as a result of the possible delayed crossings.

"Fortunately, we just got in one load and we do have another loadthat'sgoing to cross tonight ... so we should be in good shape for the weekend," said Byron Bellows, acategorymanager for produce atColemans.

Bellows said it's part of "our daily routine to watch the weather and watch the marine forecast.

"We're at the mercy of that ferry system and sometimes it works out for you, but sometimes it doesn't," he said.

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