A Milder Weather Pattern Emerges For NL As We Near The New Year
I’m tracking two areas of low pressure affecting Newfoundland and Labrador over the next couple of days.
The first system brought rain and pockets of freezing rain earlier today, but those freezing rain warnings have largely ended as of late afternoon. The second system — currently to our west — is the next weather-maker, bringing snow to parts of Labrador and rain and wind to much of the rest of the province from Tuesday into Wednesday.
This forecast is sponsored by Community Credit Union.
Visit Community Credit Union, where you’re more than just a member, you’re a part of our Community. Branches are located in Marystown, Witless Bay and Hermitage. Visit our website ccunl.ca for details.
Short-Term Overview
Labrador West: Snow moves in Tuesday morning and continues through the day.
Newfoundland: A generally quiet start Tuesday, with rain spreading in from the southwest by midday.
Western Newfoundland: Windy conditions, especially through the Wreckhouse.
Wednesday: Colder air sneaks back in with flurries or snow squalls in parts of southern and western Newfoundland.
Snow: Labrador West
A yellow snowfall alert is in effect for Labrador West from Tuesday morning through the evening.
Expected snowfall: 15–25 cm
Heaviest totals likely in Wabush and Labrador City
Snow tapers to flurries by Wednesday
Impacts are expected to be moderate, but snow will fall steadily for much of the day.
Rain: Newfoundland & Coastal Labrador
This system is mainly a rain-maker for the Island and coastal Labrador.
South Coast: 15–25 mm
Northeast Coast / Bonavista Bay / Fogo Island: 10–15 mm
Southeast Labrador (Mary’s Harbour to Cartwright): Around 15 mm
Nain area: Up to ~30 mm possible
The reason most areas see rain? Mild air is being pulled in, pushing temperatures above freezing province-wide on Tuesday.
Wind: Western Newfoundland & Wreckhouse
Strong winds develop Tuesday morning in western Newfoundland.
Yellow wind warnings in effect for:
Corner Brook
Bay St. George
Wreckhouse wind warning remains in effect
Peak gusts possible mid-morning
Gusts near or above 120 km/h in exposed areas
Winds ease later in the day as the system moves east.
Looking Ahead: New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day
New Year’s Eve: Generally quiet with a few scattered showers or flurries.
New Year’s Day: Chance of rain or snow moving into parts of central, western, and southern Newfoundland later in the day.
Labrador: Mostly quiet for New Year’s Day.
Why It’s Staying Mild
A strong Greenland blocking pattern is dominating the jet stream this week. This forces storm systems to track west of Newfoundland and Labrador, keeping us on the milder side of these systems.
Until that pattern breaks — which may not happen until next week — expect:
More systems
More rain than snow (outside Labrador West)
Temperatures staying above normal for late December
Final Word
After the heavy snow around Christmas and Boxing Day (including nearly 150 cm reported in L’Anse-au-Loup), this stretch offers a temporary break from deep cold, though it comes with rain and wind instead.
I’ll have my next update posted tomoorrow morning!
📱 Get the Sheerr Weather App in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
🗺️ Check out the Map Room to see all the latest weather observations for the Province.
🎥 Check out the Provincial Highway Cams to see 👀 what’s going on around our highways and byways!
