The special weather statement issued for much of the island of Newfoundland has turned into a wind warning for Wednesday and a new advisory has also been issued for Thursday.
The warning is for dangerous wind gusts expected to affect all of western Newfoundland with gusts reaching 140 kilometres per hour along areas of the coast prone to enhancement of such windy conditions Wednesday.
A separate warning has been issued for The Wreckhouse area of southwestern Newfoundland where it is already quite windy. Winds in the area are currently around 100 kilometres per hour and are expected to reach gusts of 140 kilometres per hour tonight.
Conditions are expected to generate gusts up to 160 kilometres per hour in The Wreckhouse area Wednesday morning.
Outside the unique conditions that will affect The Wreckhouse, the strongest winds elsewhere will likely occur south of the Bay of Islands Wednesday morning and from the Bay of Islands northward in the afternoon.
Winds are forecast to ease Wednesday night, but then southeasterlies will strengthen Thursday with potential to reach or exceed warning criteria again.
The special weather statement that has been issued is calling for rain, wind and mild temperatures Thursday.
Forecast guidance indicates that a developing weather system will spread rain across all of Newfoundland on Thursday. While it is too soon to forecast rainfall amounts, it appears the heaviest rain will occur along the south coast of the island, where potential exists for totals to exceed warning criteria.
Strong winds and mild temperatures accompanying the rain will lead to significant snowmelt and runoff. Efforts should be made to clear storm drains in advance of this thaw.
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