In Newfoundland, winter ‘just doesn’t want to go away quite yet’

Central and northeastern Newfoundland saw a mix of snow and ice pellets on Wednesday, accompanied with a weather warning from Environment Canada that more was on the way. (Pixabay photo)

JOHN’S, N.L. — The calendar confirms it’s nearly May, but the ice-coated trees suggested winter still had its grip on Newfoundland on Wednesday.

“Winter sometimes just doesn’t want to go away quite yet,” said Environment Canada meteorologist David Neil.

Many Newfoundlanders were forced to unpack their parkas Wednesday as the first of two frost-bearing systems swept through the province.

Central and northeastern Newfoundland saw a mix of snow and ice pellets on Wednesday, accompanied with a weather warning from Environment Canada that more was on the way.

Winter-weary residents shared images on social media of snow-covered barbecues and spring flowers encased in ice.

Gander residents had basked in 17 degree weather on Monday only to welcome 12 centimetres of snow Wednesday — a number Neil said was kept on the low side because of ice pellets mixed in.

In St. John’s, the trees and colourful homes were coated in ice after hours of freezing rain.

In the capital city’s downtown, large icicles were falling from power lines and crashing onto cars and sidewalks.

Neil said not every part of the province is experiencing winter conditions but temperatures were on the cool side across the map.

Newfoundland Power reported a number of outages by Wednesday afternoon, attributing at least one in Little Harbour, N.L. to severe weather conditions.

Environment Canada issued a freezing rain warning for the province, urging cautious driving for Wednesday and warning of another storm bringing freezing rain, snow and ice pellets from Thursday through Friday.

Neil said the central and northeastern regions can expect another “good shot of snow” with the second system to come.

The next few days are expected to bring more wintry precipitation, but another system moving up through Labrador could bring “warmer, wetter conditions” after the Thursday and Friday chill.

Neil said the fluctuations aren’t unusual for this time of year and while a spring snowfall can be disheartening, it usually doesn’t stay on the ground for long.

“It’s definitely a reminder that spring can be kind of finicky,” Neil said.