The RCMP is reporting multiple washed out roads in the Codroy Valley area, including the Trans-Canada Highway near Dolyes, after a rain storm pummelled Newfoundland’s southwest coast overnight.
The storm has already dropped 85 mm in Port aux Basques as of 5:30 a.m. NT Wednesday, according to Rodney Barney, a meteorologist with Environment Canada’s weather officer in Gander.
“Further up the Codroy Valley we have a report of 125 mm,” Barney said, adding that he suspects much higher amounts of rain fell over the mountains.
Barney said the rain to intensify early Wednesday morning, as meteorologists expect the system to bring 150 to 200 millimetres of rain to the area in total.
“We’re still looking at another 12 to 18 hours of rain,” he said.
“It looks like through the morning hours is probably when the heaviest part of the shower activity will be occurring for today, then gradually winding down as we go into the afternoon and evening.”
Barney said another 50 mm to 80 mm of rain could fall, with as much as 150 mm over high-elevation areas.
Barney said winds gusted in excess of 130 km/h in the Wreckhouse area, but have diminished slightly Wednesday morning reaching about 90 km/h. He said the wind is expected to pick up again later Wednesday morning.
The brunt of the rainfall is confined to the south west corner of the island, meaning the Port aux Basques area and as far east as La Poile can anticipate the storm to continue to soak the communities.
In a media release the RCMP said Department of Transportation crews were working in the Codroy Valley areas.
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