Severe damage in Port aux Basques as high winds, snow, continue to slam N.L.
The effects of a low-pressure system tearing through Newfoundland and Labrador are being felt across the province on Monday.
Port aux Basques is feeling the brunt, as the town's arena has been damaged.
Port aux Basques Mayor Mark Andrews told CBC News the roof of the Bruce II Sports Centre sustained damage earlier Monday afternoon. The arena houses a hockey rink, gym, bowling alley and a swimming pool.
"It's just disheartening. It's a real blow to the guts," Andrews said from North Sydney, N.S. — where he's stuck because Marine Atlantic ferry crossings have been cancelled.
"The facility is top notch, it's one of the best on the island, and to see this happen, it's really disheartening."
Andrews said the roof had been installed this summer after years of work and consultation.
The low pressure system will continue to bring snow and high winds Monday night and into Tuesday morning.
All of Newfoundland, along with parts of Labrador, are under orange or yellow weather warnings from Environment Canada.
All of eastern Newfoundland remains under a wind warning.
CBC meteorologist Ashley Brauweiler said Monday afternoon winds are already gusting north of 100 km/h in some areas and wind speed will ramp up Monday night.
Across eastern Newfoundland, winds could gust as high as 140 km/h along the coast.
Winds are expected to peak between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. NT, Brauweiler said, and are expected to ease up over the course of Monday night and into Tuesday.
On the west coast and the Northern Peninsula, which remains under a yellow winter storm warning, winds gusting between 90 and 120 km/h will be paired with an additional five to 10 cm of snow.
"It's been snowing overnight into pretty much all day," St. Anthony Mayor Michelle Tucker told CBC News. "We had to take our equipment off the road at lunch time because it was blinding conditions."
Parts of southern Newfoundland could also see winds between 100 and 110 km/h, gusting to 130 km/h.
15,000 without power
Power outages are being reported across the island as the storm continues.
As of 8:15 p.m. NT, Newfoundland Power's outage centre showed 15,364 customers without electricity.
"We're getting intense wind right across and it's really impacting our system in pockets here and there," said Rob Collett, vice president of engineering for Newfoundland Power.
"With these high winds gonna be whipping through overnight, it likely will won't be until morning that some of these issues get repaired. But of course, our crews are at the ready and ready to go."
Much of Newfoundland has seen messy, wet weather on Monday. It is expected to continue into Tuesday morning as winds ramp up. (Troy Turner/CBC)
Winds remain intense
On Monday evening Burgeo Mayor Trevor Green said conditions are deteriorating and he is recommending residents stay indoors.
Monday's storm is the latest in what he's perceived as a strong winter for storms early in the year.
"It seems the winds this year, in my opinion anyway, seem to be a lot stronger and a lot more consistent than what they've been in past years," he said.
Andrews said he feels this season has been particularly intense.
"It seems like every year the wind is getting more intensified over the years. And it seems like this year in particular, it's more intensified," he said.
Parts of southern Labrador will also see similar winds Monday night. Some areas will see gusts between 80 and 90 km/h, while areas like Black Tickle could see wind gusts reach 110 km/h.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is warning of poor driving conditions across Newfoundland. If travel is necessary, police say its essential people practice safe driving.
"We're already seeing a couple of collisions on the northeast Avalon," said Const. Stephanie Myers.
"With the winds and the rain and the ice, [we anticipate] that we're going to be busy this evening [and] into tomorrow, for sure."
Marine Atlantic ferry crossings were cancelled because of the weather, as was school in most of central and western Newfoundland.
Thumbnail courtesy of Samantha Allen/Facebook via CBC.
The story was originally written by Alex Kennedy and published for CBC News. It contains files from On The Go.