The recent days have been a winter wonderland for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. In the Green Bay-White Bay area, an estimated 99 cm of snow, equivalent to over three feet, has blanketed the region since Christmas night, according to Justin Boudreau, a meteorologist from Environment Canada.
In La Scie, locals woke up on Sunday to a landscape buried under snow, with Hunter Burton, a councillor, noting that almost everything was covered. Deputy mayor Cassandra Butt mentioned that the town’s sole gas station and another one approximately 45 minutes away had run out of fuel, but the community members were supporting each other during this challenging time.
The heavy snowfall also affected western Newfoundland, with 30 to 50 cm of snow reported and up to 100 cm in higher, less populated areas. Blowing snow advisories persisted in the Nain area, while freezing rain warnings were issued for the Avalon and parts of central Newfoundland.
Hundreds of households in central Newfoundland experienced power outages on Sunday morning due to the winter storm. Restoration efforts by NL Hydro and Newfoundland Power were hindered by ongoing poor weather conditions in some areas.
Severe winter weather conditions rendered many roads impassable, leading to the closure of significant sections of highways in the Northern Peninsula and Labrador. Route 410 on the Northern Peninsula was shut down from near Port Saunders to Plum Point, while in Labrador, Route 516 to Cartwright and parts of Route 510 were temporarily closed.
Travel advisories were issued for parts of the west coast and central Newfoundland. Despite an upcoming warmer period, more snowfall is expected, although it is likely the final major snowstorm of the year, as mentioned by Boudreau.
Overall, the winter storm has caused significant disruptions across Newfoundland and Labrador, with communities coming together to navigate the challenges posed by the heavy snowfall.