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It’s another wet and stormy day for much of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Winter weather warnings have ended for the Avalon and Burin, but continue in parts of central, the west coast and Labrador.
The most severe weather warnings are in the Green Bay-White Bay area. The area is expected to get up to 60 cm of snow, with wind gusts up to 110 km/hour until early Sunday.
“It’s been a very, very busy start to December compared to previous years”, said Graham MacDonald, meteorologist with Environment Canada.
Multiple December snowstorms may have been somewhat normal 10 years ago, according to MacDonald, but not lately.
“It feels like this winter is trying to trying make up for the past ones we’ve had.”
Outages, Cancellations
The weather is making driving more dangerous across the province, with travel not recommended in several parts of central and on the Northern Peninsula. In Labrador, route 510 was closed between Red Bay and Lodge Bay Saturday morning.
More than 3,000 people were without power on Saturday afternoon around the Musgrave Harbour, Twillingate, and the Summerford area. Power was restored to some customers later in the day. Hundreds more lost power around Embree, Little Burnt Bay, and the Springdale area.
Marine Atlantic cancelled all ferries between North Sydney and Port aux Basques for Saturday and several flights departing St. John’s International Airport were cancelled or delayed on Saturday.
Snow and blowing snow for the western side of the island are forecast to continue until Sunday, with the potential for more than 80 cm of snowfall accumulation over the Lewis Hills- Serpentine Lake area.
Winter storm conditions are expected to end Saturday evening for the Bay of Exploits area, and Saturday night for Grand Falls-Windsor. Snow will likely change to rain Saturday afternoon.
In parts of coastal Labrador, snow should change to rain Saturday evening.
An old fashioned winter
The snowy weather isn’t bad news to everyone.
Linda Chaisson, Mayor of Corner Brook, says the persistent snow benefits tourism and the economy in her city, as people enjoy activities like cross-country skiing.
She says the Marble Mountain ski slopes will likely open soon.
“We are having what a lot of seniors have told me is an old fashioned winter,” said Chaisson.
“Every day there’s snow.”
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