Snowstorm vs. sandstorm; CNA campuses close for very different reasons
Two College of the North Atlantic campuses announced weather-related closures on Thursday, but the type of storm at each site was quite different.
The CNA campus in Carbonearon Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsulaannounced in the morningthere would be adelayed openingdue to overnight snowfall.
Carbonear campus will have a delayed opening this morning. Classes will begin at 10:30am. #nlwx #nlschools
—@CNA_News
A few hours earlier,halfway around the world on the Arabian Peninsula,CNA campus in Doha,Qatar was closed for the day for a very different reason a sandstorm.
Back in Carbonear, wet slushy snow covered houses and roads in the community.
11:15pm at #Carbonear Approx 8cm down & snowing like February. Neighbour's Christmas lights across street. Why not? pic.twitter.com/7qE9hXeA5J
—@fabutton
In Qatar, schools throughout the city of Doha were closed after ablinding sandstorm rolled through the region, making visibility poor and creating a safety hazard for anyone outside breathing in the dust.
My brother in law has the day off due to a sand storm in Qatar. #nltraffic @NLESDCA @590VOCM pic.twitter.com/2FuL5rgHHD
—@ocathome
Newfoundlander Mark Skanes,a chemistry instructorat CNA in Doha, saidhe never expected to get a day off because of sand.
"It's the first sand day I've ever had, and maybe the first for the college," he said.
"I found out before 7 a.m. from an email sent by our president. The storm started last night and visibility was so low I wasn't surprised that it was closed."
The comparison betweenthe CNA campus communitieswasn't lost on some peoplewhotook to social media to point out the stark contrast between the two areas.
@briancbctraffic We have snow days. My daughter is working in Qatar she has a sand day. Air quality is so poor. pic.twitter.com/eksCaHzh1q
—@6284_dlc
Both the Doha sandstorm and the blowing snow conditions in Carbonear had passed by 9 a.m. Newfoundland time on Thursday.
While those in Qatar will now start cleaning and dusting following thesandstorm, those in Carbonear will spend the day shoveling and cautiously driving following a night of snow and freezing rain.
@jeffhutcheson lots of sunshine here in Carbonear oh yeah and some SNOW happy April. pic.twitter.com/KrI2WOZvEY
—@TammyWrice
CNA Qatar campus remained closed for the day due to Thursday'ssandstorm. However,in Carbonear, CNAisn't letting the snow take a full school day from studentsthe campus plans to reopen for regular classes at 10:30 a.m.CNA is Newfoundland and Labrador public college with 17 campuses across the province and the technical education college in Doha,Qatar.