Wild 24 Hours Across NL: Records, Rain, Wind… and a 32°C Temperature Crash
It’s been an incredibly active 24+ hours across Newfoundland and Labrador as a powerful storm system continues to move through the region. From record warmth to heavy rain, strong winds, and now a sharp return to cold — this one has delivered just about everything.
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Record Warmth Before the Crash
Let’s start with yesterday — because it was anything but normal for mid-March.
Many areas across Newfoundland climbed well into the double digits. Lark Harbour nearly hit 19°C, while St. John’s reached 14.1°C. Even typically colder spots like Cartwright and Mary’s Harbour pushed into the teens. One of the most notable stats came from St. Anthony, where the temperature hit 11°C — setting a new all-time March temperature record at that location, with records dating back to 1945.
Heavy Rain and Strong Winds
Along with the warmth came soaking rain and powerful winds.
Southern and southwestern Newfoundland saw the heaviest rainfall totals:
Burgeo: ~74 mm
St. Alban’s: ~70 mm
Port aux Basques: 51.2 mm
Meanwhile, Labrador — especially Lab West — dealt with intense winds. Wabush recorded a peak gust over 100 km/h, marking the strongest wind there since 1991 and the first triple-digit gust since 2002.
Then… the Bottom Dropped Out
And now, the part that really stands out.
In Wabush, temperatures fell from +5°C at 2 PM yesterday to -27°C by 10 AM today.
That’s a staggering 32°C drop in less than 24 hours — a dramatic reminder of just how volatile March can be in Labrador. This isn’t just cold air moving in — it’s a full-on Arctic air mass plunging south out of Quebec and locking into place.
What’s Happening Now
As of today:
Labrador is cold, sunny, and much calmer than yesterday
Newfoundland is transitioning, with colder air pushing in from west to east
Some areas are already seeing rain change back to snow as temperatures fall
What’s Next
Tonight turns sharply colder across the province:
Labrador: lows near -20 to -33°C in Lab West
Newfoundland: lows ranging from -6 to -16°C, coldest on the Northern Peninsula
Thursday looks quieter overall, with plenty of sunshine.
However, another system offshore may clip eastern Newfoundland Thursday night into early Friday, bringing:
2–5 cm for some areas
5–10 cm possible across parts of the Avalon, including St. John’s
There is still some uncertainty on how far west that snow reaches
Looking Ahead
The pattern stays active. Another system is expected late weekend into early next week, bringing:
Snow to western Newfoundland and Labrador by Sunday
Possible mixing with rain on the South Coast
Snow potentially lingering into Monday
I’ll have my next update posted tomorrow morning!
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