Key takeaways:
- Washouts and road shutdowns near St. John’s after almost 70 mm of rain.
- On Sunday, melting snow and hefty rainfall-induced flooding along the Waterford River in St. John’s.
Extreme climate impacting parts of Avalon Peninsula:
Much of Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula was left dealing with flooding and powerful winds Sunday, while Labrador braced for blizzard circumstances.
Blair Sparkes of Environment Canada’s Gander climate office states that some places on the Avalon Peninsula declared almost 70 mm of rain overnight.
Sparkes stated melting snow also donated to the flooding.
“Temperatures did get up relatively warm overnight, normally running about eight to 10 degrees now over the Avalon Peninsula; most of eastern and southern Newfoundland are witnessing that type of numbers,” he stated Sunday on CBC Radio’s Weekend AM. Source – cbc.ca
“There’s a bit of current as well, so all the elements that count to the snowmelt were there last night.” Source – cbc.ca
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Environment Canada’s rainfall alert for the Avalon Peninsula was completed soon before 11 a.m. NT, with some light rain and showers predicted through the day.
The hefty rain and melting snow washed out some routes and flooded river banks.
Due to flooding, the region’s transportation department shut the ramp from Kenmount Road onto southbound Team Gushue Highway on Sunday sunrise. At the same time, parts of the Salmonier Line and the Southern Shore HIghway sorrowed washouts.
In a report Sunday morning, the City of St. John’s stated the following roads had been shut due to flooding:
- Portugal Cove Road: Winter Avenue to Rennies Mill Road – regional traffic only
- Power’s Lane
- Southside Road: North of Blackhead Road
- Southside Road running East toward Blackhead Road
- Syme’s Bridge
- Waterford Bridge Road: Waterford Hospital to Road de Luxe
Sparkes stated wind alerts are still impacting numerous coastal regions in Newfoundland and along Labrador’s south coast, however, with blows reaching up to 120 km/h along with areas of the Northern Peninsula and into Labrador.
