Wind, rain warnings for Newfoundland, snow heading for Labrador

Environment Canada is warning of significant rain and high winds in parts of western and southern Newfoundland, while a large amount of snow is expected to fall in parts of Labrador Wednesday.

• Storm Centre: western Newfoundland closures and cancellations
• Storm Centre: Labrador updates on delays and closures
• Storm Centre: latest closures in central Newfoundland

Heavy rain is expected to start in Port aux Basques early Wednesday morning before spreading eastacross the island.

• Weather warnings: doubles digit highs followed by a quick freeze

Between 20 and 50 millimetres of rain is expected to fall along the south coast and Avalon Peninsula, before tapering off Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

But rainfall amounts could reach 95 mm inland and over higher terrain in the Port aux Basques and Burgeoareas.

Environment Canada is warning that the rain, combined with unseasonably warm temperatures near 8 C, will cause significant snow melt.

Paired with heavy downpours, there is a risk of flash floods and water pooling on roads.

Marine Atlantic has rescheduled its 11:45 a.m. crossings between Port aux Basques and North Sydney Wednesday due to weather conditions.

A Wreckhouse wind warning is in effect for the Port aux Basques region, with winds gusting up to 140 km/h during the morning butexpected to ease into the afternoon.

A number of schools on the west coast were closed for the morning due to weather conditions in the area.

Environment Canada alsowarns of winds gusting up to 100 km/h starting later Wednesday afternoon into the evening in theCorner Brook andGrosMorneareas, the south coast,the Bonavista Peninsula and the Avalon.

Snow and freezing rain for Labrador

Meanwhile, a snowfall warning has been issued for parts of Labrador and a number of schools have been closed for the morning due to weather.

In western Labrador and the Nain area, snowfall between 15 and 25 centimetres is expectedWednesday.

The snowfall at times will be heavy in the morning, Environment Canada warns, before tapering to flurries in the afternoon.

In Lake Melville, a freezing rain warning is in effect for Wednesday morning.

The freezing rain is expected to switch to rain later in the morning, as temperatures rise above freezing.