Freak May snowstorm buries much of Newfoundland event summary

*** I usually do not cover Newfoundland on this blog. However I felt this unique situation deserved a post, or even two. ***

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AWCN16 CWHX 200625
SPECIAL WEATHER SUMMARY MESSAGE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR ISSUED
BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AT 3:55 AM NDT MONDAY 20 MAY 2013.

A SLOW-MOVING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM SOUTH OF NEWFOUNDLAND BROUGHT
INCLEMENT WEATHER TO MUCH OF THE ISLAND FOR THE MAY LONG WEEKEND.
RAIN, DRIZZLE AND FOG WAS PREDOMINANT OVER THE AVALON PENINSULA,
WHILE OTHER COASTAL AREAS OF EASTERN NEWFOUNDLAND ALSO RECEIVED RAIN
OR A COMBINATION OF RAIN AND SNOW.  HOWEVER, SOME AREAS OF
NORTHEASTERN NEWFOUNDLAND RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS
WITH THE TOWN OF GANDER BEING THE HARDEST HIT. AT GANDER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 58 CENTIMETERS OF SNOW WAS REPORTED OVER A 36
HOUR PERIOD FROM SATURDAY MORNING TO SUNDAY EVENING, WITH THE HIGHEST
ACCUMULATIONS OCCURRING ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. THE LATE SEASON
SNOWFALL RESULTED IN SLIPPERY DRIVING CONDITIONS THROUGH CENTRAL
NEWFOUNDLAND AND PUT A DAMPER ON THE PLANS OF VICTORIA DAY LONG
WEEKEND CAMPERS.

THIS WAS AN EXTREME SNOWFALL EVENT FOR GANDER FOR THE MONTH OF MAY,
AS GANDER'S AVERAGE MAY SNOWFALL IS JUST 13 CENTIMETERS. THE PREVIOUS
RECORD SNOWFALL FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MAY WAS 49 CENTIMETERS WHICH
OCCURRED IN 1972.

END/

Freak May snowstorm buries much of Newfoundland

58 centimetres of snow falls in Gander between Saturday and Sunday

CBC News

Posted: May 20, 2013 7:55 AM NT

Last Updated: May 20, 2013 11:24 AM NT

The Victoria Day long weekend this year has meant shovels, icy roads and a record-breaking snowfall for many residents of central Newfoundland.

In Gander, 58 centimetres of snow fell between Saturday morning and Sunday night, with peak snowfall on Saturday evening.

Environment Canada meteorologist Jody Boyd said the snowfall blew away the prior record.

"Our normal snowfall for the month of May is just 13 centimetres, and the highest monthly total in the past was set in 1972," Boyd said. "For the whole month, it was 49 centimetres, so we beat that over the span of 36 hours."

Other parts of the province suffered inclement weather, including rain, drizzle and fog in eastern Newfoundland as well as cold temperatures.

How did you cope with the weather in Newfoundland this weekend? Cast a vote in our wholly unscientific survey of public opinion below.