Winter storm closing in, warnings issued

Environment Canada now says a forecasted winter storm will bring up to 15 cm of snow and extremely high windsto partsof Newfoundland and Labrador on Wednesday and Thursday.

• Winter storm forecast for later this week
• Winter storm has sights set on Canada's East Coast

"We've got a low[pressure system] that's over the Great Lakes and that's going to spawn a second low near Nova Scotia tomorrow morning and that will track way up towards southeastern Labradorby Thursday morning," saidDale Foote,a meteorologist at the Gander weather office.

Special weather statements and winter stormwatches have been issued for the much of the province,with significant snow and blowing snow expected tomove in Wednesday.

Foote said the systems are tracking to hit southwestern Newfoundland the hardest with snowfall,high winds and a possible storm surge.

He said thearea could receive over 15 cm of snow combined with around110 km/h winds, adding thatthe Wreckhouse area could see up to140 km/h winds.

"We're expecting those extreme winds to move up the west coast. We don't have warnings outrightnowbut there will probably be some out later today for up towardsBonneBayand area."

The Avalon can expect around 5 cm of snow mixed with ice pellets to hitjust in time for the home commute and while the weather office is notexpecting a lot of accumulation,winds will ramp up to around80km/h.

"It's going to be messy for awhiletomorrow afternoon," said Foote.

Significant snow and strong winds are also expected across most of Labrador.

Marine Atlantic is watching the weather system closelyas it approaches.

Ferry crossings between PortauxBasques and North Sydney were cancelled on Mondaydue to high winds but are nowoperating on a load and go basis.