Weather summary for Newfoundland issued by Environment Canada at 1:00 p.m. NST Saturday 18 January 2020.
Picture credit: Ernie Powell
Discussion.
A powerful January storm brought intense winds and record-breaking snowfall to parts of Newfoundland on Friday into Friday night.
A new all-time daily snowfall record was established at St. John's International Airport.
New record: 76.2 cm (January 17, 2020).
Previous daily record: 68.4 cm (April 5, 1999). Records began in 1942.
The above total is applicable for the January 17 climatological day, which is a 24 hour period ending at 2:30 A.M. NST on January 18. An additional centimetre was recorded after 2:30 A.M.
The following is a preliminary summary of information received by Environment and Climate Change Canada as of 12:30 P.M. NST.
Total snowfall (in centimetres):
Mount Pearl: 93
Paradise: 91
St. John's East: 82
St. John's International Airport: 77
Lethbridge: 48
Gander West: 35
Gander International Airport: 34
St. Lawrence: 31
Maximum wind gusts (in kilometres per hour):
Green Island, Fortune Bay: 171
Bonavista: 164
Grates Cove: 156
Heart's Delight-Islington: 156
Cape Pine: 146
Green Island, Trinity Bay: 145
Twillingate: 140
St. John's - Doheney Place: 134
St. John's - East White Hills: 132
St-Pierre: 130
St. John's - Dockyard: 129
Pass Island: 126
Allan's Island: 116
Holyrood: 114
Bishop's Cove: 113
Ramea: 109
St. Lawrence: 106
Burgeo: 105
St. John's West: 105
Deer Park: 101
North Harbour: 101
Gander: 97
At St. John's International Airport the official wind sensor malfunctioned during the storm. Reported winds were estimated to be between 65 and 85 knots (120 to 157 km/h). However, it will likely not be possible to provide a verified maximum gust.
The wind sensor at Gander International Airport also briefly malfunctioned. The highest gust at the nearby Gander climate station was measured as reaching 97 km/h.
Please note that this summary may contain preliminary or unofficial information and does not constitute a complete or final report.
End/NLWO