NL

Wicked winds rock Newfoundland, blizzard hits Labrador

While a blizzard ripped into parts of Labrador on Sunday, high winds knocked out power and caused transportation problems in Newfoundland.
A child's playhouse was crushed in a backyard in Mount Moriah near Corner Brook. (Melissa Bellows/Facebook)

Heavy rain tapered off early Sunday afternoon while high winds continued to knock out power in many parts of the island — including South River, St. John's, the Southern Shore, Random Island, the Burin Peninsula and Corner Brook. 

High winds in Lord's Cove on Sunday afternoon. (Margaret Mary Martin)
Newfoundland Power said "severe weather conditions" were the cause.

Road washouts caused by storm surges in Spanish Room on the south coast, as well as the main road in the Codroy Valley caused delays and traffic re-routing in the early afternoon. The Greenspond Causeway was also affected.

A winter storm warning continues to be in effect for the Upper Lake Melville and heavy snowfall is expected in parts of Labrador.
Vehicle overturned on the Trans Canada Highway near Gander where winds were clocked at more than 100 km/h. (Vince MacKenzie/Twitter)

Wind warnings were issued across the island. With wind gusts hitting 154 km/h in the notorious Wreckhouse area on Newfoundland's southwest coast and 126 km/h in Cape Pine on the Avalon, ferries are the island were tied up in port. 

Marine Atlantic kept its vessels from sailing across the Cabot Strait until the worst of the storm had passed.

In southern Labrador, conditions were so bad that the Department of Transportation and Works had to keep crews off the road for safety reasons. 

High winds upturned a patio in Cavendish, Trinity Bay causing a lot of damage. (Jeff Jackson/Twitter)
A number of roads in southern Labrador were also closed, including connections affecting Red Bay, Lodge Bay and Port Hope Simpson.

Further north, a blizzard warning covered the Labrador coast from Hopedale to Makkovik, while much of the interior was under a winter storm warning. 

Meanwhile, Environment Canada is warning of a storm surge along western Newfoundland, particularly near Bay St. George and Port Saunders. 

A snow squall and high wind warning continues to cover Newfoundland's west coast. 

The storm has been causing problems for air travellers, with flights cancelled or delayed at St. John's, Deer Lake, Gander, Wabush and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Travellers were asked to check for updates with their carriers.