Freezing rain created some difficult driving conditions across much of Newfoundland on Saturday and will continue across much of the central and western parts of the island on Sunday. (Vince McKenzie/Twitter)
Almost all of Newfoundland and parts of southern Labrador remain under red warnings on Environment Canada’s weather map as rain, sleet and snow are expected to continue into Sunday.
While winter storm warnings issued Saturday ended in western Newfoundland, new freezing rain warnings were issued in Rocky Harbour, La Saye, Port aux Chois, St. Anthony, Angley and Gros Morne. Much of the island also remains under a freezing rain warning, while areas of Avalon face a rainfall warning.
Environment Canada meteorologist Justin Boudreau said Sunday that the weather was supposed to change from freezing rain to rain Saturday night. But that didn’t happen, he added, meaning conditions were likely to be icy across much of the island.
Ice and severe weather caused power outages in parts of Newfoundland, affecting about 2,300 Newfoundland Power customers at their peak.
Power has been restored in some areas, but more than 1,000 people remain without power as of 10am NT on Sunday. Customers in Gallants, Spruce Brook, George’s Lake, parts of Corner Brook and others can get power until 2 p.m., according to Newfoundland Power’s website.
Outages were also reported at Fortune, Gander and Badger as of 10:30 a.m
Freezing rain is expected to continue for extended periods through Sunday, Boudreau said, along with periods of heavy rain. The South Coast could receive another 40 to 60 millimeters of rain by Monday on top of what has already fallen, while other regions could see 60 to 90 millimeters of rain by Monday morning.
Freezing rain is affecting driving conditions on the island with reports of patches of ice and slush along with drifting snow in some areas.
“It’s mostly light freezing rain, but it could last three, four to six hours. So that might make the travel conditions not so fun, especially after all the stuff that’s already gone down,” Boudreau told CBC Radio on Sunday.
Meteorologist Rodney Barney tweeted on Sunday that St Albans led the way for Saturday’s rainfall with 76mm.
Winds will also play a role and could reach gusts of up to 120 km/h in the Wreckhouse area, Boudreau said.
Temperatures vary widely across the island as a result of the moving system. Parts of central and western Newfoundland are at or below freezing, while St. John’s is the warmest place in Canada at 13 degrees.
Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
Add Comment