Igor closes eastern Newfoundland schools

Onehundred and twenty-fiveschools in the eastern Newfoundland will be closed Tuesday morning in anticipation thatthe areawill be hit hard by heavy rain and high winds.

Hurricane Igor was expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm as it passes over the province but wasstill forecast to drop more than 100 millimetresof rain andcreate powerful winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour in parts of the province Monday night and Tuesday morning.

All 122 schools in Eastern School District, including schools in Clarenville and on the Avalon, Bonavista and Burin peninsulas, will be closed. Three other schools in the area Lakecrest, St. Bonaveture's and Ecole des Grand Vents will also be closed

Allof the closed schools are expectedto issueupdates at 10:30 a.m. NT regarding afternoon classes.