Arctic Air and Snow Squalls Settle In For The Weekend
An old-fashioned deep freeze is settling across Newfoundland and Labrador this weekend
Extreme Cold Warnings and Special Weather Statements are in effect for dangerously low wind chills
Some of the coldest air in the world is currently over Canada (only Siberia is colder)
Wind chills could approach –50 in parts of Labrador
Snow squalls and persistent flurries will affect parts of the Island, especially western and southern areas
A separate system could bring more widespread snow early next week, especially on Tuesday
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Old-Fashioned Cold and Snow Squalls on Tap for Newfoundland and Labrador
An old-fashioned cold winter weekend is on tap for Newfoundland and Labrador, with bitter cold, strong winds, and persistent snow squalls all playing a role in the forecast over the next few days.
Extreme Cold Warnings and Special Weather Statements are in effect across parts of the province, mainly due to very low wind chills as Arctic air settles in.
Some of the Coldest Air in the World
To put things into perspective, some of the coldest air on the planet right now is over Canada, stretching across Quebec, Ontario, and into parts of Alberta. The only region colder at the moment is Siberia.
Temperatures across much of southern and central Canada are already in the –20s to –30s, and when wind is factored in:
Churchill, Manitoba feels closer to –45
Baker Lake is near –50
That same air mass is now pressing eastward toward Atlantic Canada.
Bitter Cold Builds In
For Newfoundland and Labrador:
Tonight: –5 to –12 on the Island, minus teens to –20s in Labrador
Saturday: Temperatures hold steady or fall during the day as colder air moves in
Sunday: Highs only in the minus teens on the Island — even eastern areas like St. John’s may only reach around –11
As winds increase late Saturday into Sunday, wind chills will take a sharp dive:
Labrador City and Wabush: Wind chills approaching –50 Sunday morning
Island: Wind chills generally in the –20s to –30s, colder in exposed areas
Winds may gust 60–80 km/h at times, which is the main reason for the dangerously low wind chill values.
Snow Squalls and Persistent Flurries
Alongside the cold, snow squalls and flurries will be an ongoing issue:
Southeastern Newfoundland sees flurries overnight
West Coast squalls become more organized Saturday and remain persistent into Sunday
Parts of western, southern, and southeastern Newfoundland are under Snow Squall Watches
Snowfall amounts will vary widely due to the localized nature of squalls, but:
Avalon & Burin Peninsulas: Generally 5–15 cm, higher where squalls persist
Western Newfoundland: 15–30 cm widely, with 30+ cm possible in higher terrain
Some areas will see significantly more snow if they remain under persistent squalls.
Looking Ahead to Next Week
A major winter storm is expected to bring 30–60 cm (1–2 feet) of snow to parts of the northeastern United States Sunday into Sunday night. A related system looks likely to pass east of Newfoundland Monday night into Tuesday, bringing snow to parts of Newfoundland and the Maritimes.
At this point:
Tuesday looks like the snowiest day for many areas
Snowfall estimates are 10–20 cm, but confidence on placement and duration will improve over the weekend
Colder-than-normal weather continues into next week, and coastal Labrador may see additional snow later in the week from another system.
Stay weather-aware this weekend — it will be cold, windy, and locally snowy.
I’ll have my next update posted tomorrow morning!
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