Road conditions are treacherous on the Avalon as a winter storm batters the area, and police are advising people to stay off the roads unless it is absolutely essential.

Witless Bay Line is impassable and has been closed to all traffic until further notice.

Hebron Way is also closed due to drifting snow.

RCMP corporal Dave Borden says road conditions are “terrible” and there are a lot of stranded motorists along the TCH.

Borden says both visibility and accumulation are major factors.

He says the snow is coming down so fast that plows are clearing the roads, but within 10 minutes it is all filled back in again.

St. John’s City Councillor Greg Noseworthy says crews have been working around the clock, but clearing side streets may take longer than usual.

“We have a priority system, so if you haven’t seen a plow just yet, which is possible in some areas,” he told VOCM Open Line.

“We’re expecting (the storm) to go for quite a bit longer, and then we do have some additional snow now over the next couple of days, so our normal standards for servicing, our crews will be out 24-7, but our normal standards for getting everything absolutely down to the pavement, that will take a little bit longer than normal.”

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The RCMP is advising residents to stay off the highways if at all possible, as the storm continues to hamper the Avalon Peninsula.

Corporal Dave Borden described the conditions along the TCH as “terrible,” with nearly a foot of freestanding snow on the main highway.

⚠️ TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Heavy snow and high winds mean road conditions are very poor across Eastern Newfoundland.

For your safety and the safety of others, please consider delaying any non-essential travel until conditions improve. If you must travel, use extreme caution and drive… pic.twitter.com/0aZJhErC5N

— RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador (@RCMPNL) February 18, 2026

He says he’s been helping stuck cars through the morning, and was waiting on a snowplow to free up a stranded motorist near Paddy’s Pond.

“It’s actually terrible. Right now where I am, TCH Westbound, once you leave Metro, it’s like it’s snow-covered. There’s at least a foot of snow on it. So, crews are working. I just met a couple plows, but they can only do so much. It can’t be everywhere at once,” he told VOCM News.

Listen to the full conversations with Cpl Borden from Your VOCM Mornings, from 7:30 a.m.