High Winds Damage St. John's Cemetery, Story By The CBC

headstones in a St. John's cemetery. CBC

Posted: Jul 11, 2011 4:14 PM NT

Last Updated: Jul 11, 2011 4:14 PM NTHigh winds took their toll Sunday on the Anglican Cemetery on Forest Road in St. John's.

Gusts of up to 93 kilometres per hour toppled over an old tree. The tree then knocked over several headstones.

The damage happened in one of the oldest sections of the graveyard, which was consecrated in 1849.

"It's a shame to lose the trees, but inevitably it will happen and, unfortunately, when they get large in an old cemetery like this, they will disturb some of the headstones and graves when they come down." Craig Peterman, a genealogist who has been documenting the cemetery, said.

Cemetery supervisors said they will bring in staff with equipment to restore the headstones later this week.

Eastern Maritimes & Newfoundland Intense Oceanic Storm Event Summary

AWCN16 CWHX 102117

SPECIAL WEATHER SUMMARY MESSAGE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AT 6:47 PM NDT SUNDAY 10 JULY 2011.
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DEVELOPED OVER THE U.S EASTERN SEABOARD ON
THURSDAY EVENING. THE LOW TRACKED NORTHEASTWARD AND BEGAN TO RAPIDLY INTENSIFY ON SATURDAY AS IT PASSED EAST OF CAPE COD, AND REMAINED DEEP AS IT TRACKED SLOWLY ACROSS CENTRAL NEWFOUNDLAND THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY.

AN INTENSE BAND OF RAIN AHEAD OF THIS FEATURE SPREAD ACROSS MOST THE
ISLAND OVERNIGHT ON SATURDAY WITH THE HEAVIEST RECORDED AMOUNTS NEAR
THE BURIN PENINSULA. THE RAINFALL DIMINISHED ON SUNDAY AS THE LOW
TRACKED OVER THE ISLAND. STRONG WESTERLY WINDS DEVELOPED OVER EASTERN AND NORTHEASTERN NEWFOUNDLAND ON SUNDAY AS THE LOW PASSED OVER.

THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OBSERVED FROM SATURDAY
EVENING UNTIL SUNDAY AT 4:00 PM NDT:

ST. JOHN'S....................18 MILLIMETRES
ARGENTIA......................28 MILLIMETRES *
ST. LAWRENCE..................49 MILLIMETRES *
TERRA NOVA....................29 MILLIMETRES *
GANDER........................29 MILLIMETRES
STEPHENVILLE..................33 MILLIMETRES *
ST. ANTHONY AIRPORT...........22 MILLIMETRES *
ENGLEE........................30 MILLIMETRES *

* BASED ON AN AUTOMATIC STATION THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL PEAK
WIND SPEEDS OBSERVED FROM SATURDAY EVENING UNTIL SUNDAY AT 4:00 PM

NDT:

ST. JOHN'S.....................93 KM/HOUR
LONG POND.....................104 KM/HOUR
CAPE RACE.....................100 KM/HOUR
WINTERLAND....................100 KM/HOUR
BONAVISTA......................95 KM/HOUR
POOLS ISLAND...................99 KM/HOUR
GANDER.........................92 KM/HOUR
TWILLINGATE...................109 KM/HOUR
LA SCIE........................96 KM/HOUR

* NO AVAILABLE OR INTERMITTENT OBSERVATIONS FROM GRATES COVE

END/