Newfoundland residents were digging out from a heavy snowfall Saturday and surveying the wind damage to some of St. John's oldest and most beloved sites.

By mid-morning, the blizzard had already been blowing for more than 24 hours, bringing high winds and 34 centimetres of snow to the city.

At daybreak, some cars were still half-buried in driveways, and motorists who shovelled out were moving very slowly.

After a night of strong winds, there was damage to two historical areas, including the Battery, which clings to the rocks at the entrance to St. John's harbour, and the popular tourist attraction, Quidi Vidi Village.

Sheds and fishing stores have been heavily damaged.

"One resident told me he watched a huge wave break the shed in front of his house in two last night and he can still see it bobbing in the harbour this morning," said the CBC's Maggie Gillis, reporting from St. John's.

"One couple evacuated at around 11:30 last night because they were afraid waves were going to take the house," Gillis said.

Another five to 15 centimetres of snow were expected to fall before the end of the day.