Storm walloping parts of Newfoundland, with St. John's getting up to 85 cm of snow

Much of the Avalon Peninsula, including schools and public transportation, is shuttered Friday due to an ongoing storm bearing down on parts of Newfoundland.

Environment Canada has issued winter storm warnings for about half the island, stretching from the Avalon Peninsula to Buchans and the interior, as well as parts of the southern shore.

The weather service has forecast the St. John's area could see anywhere from 55 to 85 centimetres of snow.

According to the provincial school board's status report, schools across the island are closed either for the full day or for the morning with updates to come.

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Metrobus and GoBuses have suspended public transport services in the metro region, and Memorial University's St. John's, Marine Institute and Signal Hill campuses, as well as its child-care centre, are not opening.

City of St. John's facilities and provincial government buildings in the city are also closed.

The storm is also affecting health-care services.

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services has announced that all Eastern-Urban and Eastern-Rural zone administrative buildings, as well as community buildings and health sites that don't provide a 24-hour service, are closed. The exception is dialysis treatment centres at Mount Pearl Square and Clarenville's Coish Place.

Urgent-care services at Whitbourne's Dr. William H. Newhook Community Health Centre are also closed.

The Rooms, which is home to the provincial archive, museum and art gallery, will also not open and its planned public programs have been cancelled.

Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation also won't open its liquor stores in St. John's, Mount Pearl, Paradise and Conception Bay South.

St. John's law courts, including the sheriff's office and family justice services, are also closed, as are the Autism Society's St. John's Resource Centre and Basilica of St. John the Baptist.

The Public Service Credit Union and Scotiabank locations in the St. John's area, Bay Roberts, Carbonear, Burin Peninsula, Clarenville and Bonavista also won't open Friday.