Take a Gander at that snowfall
Newfoundland digs out while Western Canada braces for major storms
As western Canada braced for snowstorms Thursday, residents of Gander, N.L., were digging out after one of the biggest snowfalls ever recorded there — nearly 60 centimetres.
“It’s quite a scene driving around today,” Environment Canada meteorologist David Neil said from the Gander weather office.
A powerful storm blanketed much of the province Wednesday, with St. John’s and some other communities getting more than 40 centimetres.
On the West Coast, travellers in British Columbia’s southern Interior faced also challenging conditions Thursday as Environment Canada issued winter storm warnings as 40 centimetres of snow was forecast for the region.
In Alberta, wind and heavy snowfall warnings were in effect Thursday, prompting officials to ask motorists to be prepared or to delay travel. Environment Canada issued heavy snowfall warnings for Banff and Jasper national parks.
Back in central Newfoundland, Gander was hardest hit, with 58 cm of snow recorded at the town’s airport.
Combined with snow already on the ground, snow depth has piled up to 101 cm at the airport, Neil said.
“It’s certainly a bit of work to get some of that cleared out of the way,” Neil said.
Gander Mayor Percy Farwell thanked the workers who were out clearing the streets for their efforts after most residents — including Farwell himself — spent Wednesday snowed in.
“I’ve been out and around town a fair bit today and I must say I’m extremely pleased with what I see in terms of the work our folks have done,” Farwell said from Gander on Thursday.
“It looks beautiful out there now — it didn’t look very beautiful when I walked out up to my armpits to my driveway this morning,” he said.