Record-breaking warm weather brings rain, melting snow and mud to Labrador
Meterologist says the weather is an unusual system moving farther north than usual
Most look forward to winter in Labrador, says resident Roxanne Notley, but this winter is unlike anything she can remember.
Residents of the southern areas of the Big Land head into Christmas with no snow, and rapid melt is being seen throughout the rest of a region that is typically covered in ice and snow.
"The winter has been crazy, just like everywhere else in Labrador. It's just unbelievable. We did not imagine not having any snow," Notley said.
"It's just been a fight against Mother Nature now and it's just been brutal."
The Port Hope Simpson woman said it's disheartening for people who enjoy the winter months.
As a co-ordinator of cross-country ski programs, she said, they're trying to make the best of it and are busy with work on the trails in the meantime.
Rain and warm temperatures are breaking records around Labrador. Mary's Harbour broke the past record of 3.8 C set in 2010 with a new record of 7.7 C on Monday.
Labrador West, Churchill Falls, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Hopedale and Nain also broke temperature records on Monday.
All schools in Labrador West closed Monday and Tuesday due to concerns about weather and road conditions. Schools in Postville, Cartwright, Makkovik, Nain and St. Lewis also kept doors shut Tuesday.
Environment Canada meteorologist David Neil told CBC News a deep low-pressure system is passing over Labrador. Neil said it's carrying warm southern air and causing unusually warm temperatures.
Neil said the large warm storms usually track further east into the Gulf of St. Lawrence or eastern parts of Newfoundland. But this storm went across Quebec and into Labrador on Monday and Tuesday.
"[It's a] very warm, very unusual air mass and a record-breaking warm spell," Neil said. "Definitely not what you kind of expect with Labrador winter, that's for sure."
Neil said Labrador West is usually hitting highs of –14.5 C, whereas on Tuesday morning it was 6 C.
Many places in Labrador were under freezing rain warnings and the Labrador Straits region is still under a rainfall warning on Tuesday, expecting 20 to 30 millimetres, Neil said. Higher terrain could see around 60 millimetres.
"We do expect rain across areas of Labrador," Neil said. "[We're] still looking at some wet conditions to come."
In Labrador West, resident Trena Pinksen said people are taking their time on the roads and she and her husband are frequently salting their bridge and driveway to get ahead of the ice.
"It's a little unconventional for us here in Lab West to have weather like this. It's been a few years since we had rain in December, but it is what it is," Pinksen said.
"Everybody's trying to keep their spirits up, drive safe and make sure that we still have a great week of Christmas."
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