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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, Burin, Grand Falls-Windsor and Bay of Exploits area, but continue in other parts of central, and western Newfoundland, and much of coastal Labrador, according to the national weather agency.
The most severe weather warnings are in the Green Bay-White Bay area, where snow and wind gusts up to 110 km/h are expected until early Sunday, according to Environment Canada.
Parts of western Newfoundland could see more than 65 centimetres of snowfall in higher elevation areas.
“It’s been a very, very busy start to December compared to previous years”, said Graham MacDonald, a 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.”
Power outages, transportation cancellations
The weather made driving very dangerous across much of the province, with the province not recommending travel in parts of central Newfoundland, as well as the Northern Peninsula. In Labrador, route 510 was closed between Red Bay and Lodge Bay on Saturday evening.
More than 3,000 people were without power on Saturday afternoon around the Musgrave Harbour, Twillingate, and Summerford areas. Power was restored to those customers later in the day, but hundreds more lost power in other parts of the province as of Saturday evening.
Marine Atlantic cancelled all ferries between North Sydney and Port aux Basques for Saturday and several flights departing St. John’s International Airport were also cancelled or delayed.
‘Old fashioned winter’
The snowy weather wasn’t a deterrent for everyone.
Corner Brook Mayor Linda Chaisson says the persistent snow benefits tourism and the economy in her city, since 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.”
Stormy conditions on the western side of the island are forecast until Sunday, with the potential for more than 80 centimetres of snowfall accumulation over the Lewis Hills-Serpentine Lake area and the Anguille Mountains.
In parts of coastal Labrador, snow could change to rain Saturday evening.
Areas in and around Labrador City are also under a yellow cold warning until Sunday morning, with wind chill values expected to be around –45.
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