The more than 25 cm on the ground in the metro region – with lesser amounts further west – will turn into a soupy mess this afternoon as the temperature rises and the snow changes to rain.

Schools in the region will remain closed and Metrobus is staying off the road for the time-being.

Environment Canada meteorologist Jim Prime says rainfall amounts could range between 10 to 15 mm before colder air moves back in late this evening or overnight.

“We’re going to have our winds switch over to the north and northwest, and the cold air returns again, and probably a little more snow before everything is said and done tomorrow morning.”

In the meantime, the island will get a bit of a reprieve before another system moves in affecting most areas Friday into Saturday.

He says the next system will track a bit further north, meaning that most of the island will see the warmer side of the system.

“The warm air is going to be coming over almost the whole island, and we’re looking at temperatures of maybe about 7 degrees for the Avalon, so we’re going to be well into the warm sector, and it’s mostly going to be rain. Some southern parts of the province getting the onshore flow from the south could see some quite high rainfall amounts.”