Canada declares emergency over snowstorm

The capital of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador declared a rare state of emergency on Friday as blizzard conditions descended on the city and residents prepared for an intense storm expected to last into Saturday.

Officials ordered businesses to closed and vehicles to remain off the roads.

The nearby towns of Mount Pearl, Paradise, Torbay and Portugal Cove-St. Philip's followed suit shortly afterwards.

Environment Canada issued blizzard and wind warnings for much of Newfoundland and said strong winds and blowing snow might cause whiteout conditions until Saturday in some places.

Footage filmed by St John's resident, Timothy Sacrey, 40, outside his home on Friday evening shows swirling snow and snow drifts.

"We are used to having tough winters, it's a rugged place, next to the ocean, with a lot of precipitation but this is ridiculous, " Sacrey said.

"There are people who have lived here their whole lives who are really frightened. It's the first time I have ever heard people being afraid of a storm," he said.

Sacrey also told AP that power has been lost on the other side of his road.

Residents have been warned to expect 40 to 75 centimeters (16 to 30 inches) of snow.

(Image source: Twitter)