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It's another wet and stormy day for much of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Winter weather warnings have ended in the Avalon, Burin, Grand Falls-Windsor and Exploits Bay areas, but continue in other parts of central and western Newfoundland and much of coastal Labrador, according to the national weather agency.
The most severe weather warnings are in the Green Bay-White Bay area, where snow and wind gusts of up to 110 km/h are expected until Sunday morning, according to Environment Canada.
More than 65 centimeters of snow fell in parts of western Newfoundland at higher elevations.
“The start of December was very busy compared to previous years,” said Graham McDonald, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.
Multiple December snowstorms may have been the norm 10 years ago, but not recently, McDonald said.
“It feels like this winter is trying to catch up.”
Power outages, transport cancellations
The weather has made driving very dangerous across much of the province, with the province advising against travel in parts of central Newfoundland, as well as the Northern Peninsula. In Labrador, Route 510 between Red Bay and Lodge Bay was closed Saturday night.
More than 3,000 people were without power in the Musgrave, Twillingate and Summerford harbor areas on Saturday afternoon. Power was restored to those customers later that day, but as of Saturday evening, hundreds more people had lost power in other parts of the province.
Marine Atlantic has canceled all ferries between North Sydney and Port aux Basques for Saturday, and several flights departing from St John's International Airport have also been canceled or delayed.
“Old Fashioned Winter”
The snowy weather was a good deterrent for everyone.
Corner Brook Mayor Linda Chesson says persistent snow benefits tourism and her city's economy because people enjoy cross-country skiing.
She says Marble Mountain ski slopes will likely open soon.
“We're having what a lot of older people have told me is an old-fashioned winter,” Chesson said. “It snows every day.”
Stormy conditions on the western side of the island are forecast until Sunday, with more than 80 centimeters of snowfall possible in the Lewis Hills-Serpentine Lake area and the Anguilla Mountains.
Some parts of coastal Labrador could change to snow and rain on Saturday evening.
Areas in and around Labrador City are also under a yellow wind chill warning until Sunday morning, with wind temperatures expected to be around –45.
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