Thousands Left Without Power as Winter Storm Hits Newfoundland and Labrador
A severe winter storm has caused widespread power outages and flooding in Newfoundland and Labrador, affecting thousands of residents.
Newfoundland, Labrador, St. John’s, Winter Storm, Power Outages
St. John’s: A winter storm has really hit Newfoundland and Labrador hard. It’s caused flooding and left a lot of folks without power. The waves are crashing against the coast like crazy.
Ian Gillies, who lives in Brigus South, about 60 kilometers from St. John’s, said he’s never seen anything like it in the 14 years he’s been there. The surf is the highest he’s ever witnessed.
He mentioned that waves were even crashing over a normally safe island that’s about 20 to 30 feet above sea level. That’s pretty wild!
Big rocks are being swept onto the roads, making it tough for plows that usually clear snow. Instead, they’re pushing rocks off the streets now.
Ian isn’t sure about the damage yet, but he thinks it’ll be clearer in a couple of days. Social media is buzzing with pictures and videos showing flooding in St. John’s and damage to buildings.
As of Sunday afternoon, over 9,300 customers were without power. Environment Canada has issued warnings for most of Newfoundland and parts of Labrador, with messy weather expected to continue into Monday.
Western Newfoundland is bracing for about 10 centimeters of snow and winds up to 80 kilometers an hour, which could make driving really tricky.
Port aux Basques is also in for a rough time, with up to 15 centimeters of snow and winds hitting 100 kilometers an hour.
In St. John’s, they’re predicting 20 to 40 millimeters of rain, which could lead to more flooding in low-lying areas.
Eastern Newfoundland is warned about wind gusts between 90 and 120 kilometers an hour, which could damage roofs and windows. Stay safe out there!