Calmer and warmer weather returns as the major storm pulls away from NL
An intense area of low pressure moved across Newfoundland and Labrador late Monday into Tuesday, bringing heavy snow, damaging winds, and record-breaking atmospheric pressure to several regions.
Video captured in Appleton showed near-blizzard conditions as snow fell heavily and winds intensified. Central, northeastern, and western Newfoundland were especially hard hit, with widespread blowing snow and rapidly deteriorating visibility.
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Record-Low Pressure Observed
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s storm summary, several locations recorded exceptionally low atmospheric pressure. Prior to this event, the lowest pressure ever recorded in Newfoundland and Labrador during December was 950.7 mb, set in Cartwright on December 2, 1972. That benchmark was surpassed at multiple stations during this storm.
Snowfall Totals
Snowfall amounts varied significantly across the province:
Springdale: 53 cm
Deer Lake: 24 cm
St. John’s International Airport: 12 cm
Much of central, northeastern, and western Newfoundland: 20–40 cm
Reports and photos from residents showed deep snow accumulation in areas such as Corner Brook and surrounding communities, consistent with forecasts issued ahead of the storm.
Rainfall
Rainfall was mainly confined to southeastern Newfoundland, where 20–40 mm was measured. While not extreme, these totals are still notable for mid-December.
Damaging Winds
Wind gusts were particularly intense along exposed coastal areas:
St. John’s: 137 km/h
Cape Race: 164 km/h
Cape Pine: 140 km/h
Trinity: 130 km/h
Great’s Cove: 129 km/h
Lord’s Cove: 119 km/h
Some instruments, such as at Powell’s Head Lighthouse, may have recorded enhanced gusts due to local terrain effects, but winds were undeniably severe across the southeast Avalon and surrounding areas.
At the height of the storm, approximately 22,000 Newfoundland Power customers were without electricity. That number has since dropped significantly as crews continue restoration efforts.
What’s Ahead
The remainder of the week looks relatively quiet:
Wednesday: Generally calm with flurries in spots, temperatures near or slightly above freezing on the Island and colder in Labrador.
Thursday: Mild for December, with highs of 4–6°C across eastern and northeastern Newfoundland.
Another strong low-pressure system is expected late Friday into Saturday, bringing a surge of warmer air. This system could lead to rain or mixed precipitation, even in parts of Labrador that have experienced prolonged cold. Colder air is expected to return sharply behind it, with a transition back to snow and much colder temperatures heading into early next week.
Looking ahead toward Christmas, current signals suggest many areas have a reasonable chance of a white Christmas, though details will become clearer in the coming days.
I’ll have my next update posted over the weekend.
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