Wicked winds rock Newfoundland, blizzard hits Labrador
CBC News | Posted: January 25, 2015 12:24 PM | Last Updated: January 25, 2015
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.
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.
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.
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.