▶ Video · Morning Briefing

Friday Morning Update — January 16, 2026

By Eddie Sheerr·January 16, 2026 · 6:41 AM

Good Friday Morning!

Here are today’s weather highlights:

• 🌧️ Heavy rain this morning on the Avalon, shifting west through the day with widespread rain across much of Newfoundland.

• ❄️ Snow intensifying across the Northern Peninsula and southeastern Labrador, with up to 30 cm possible in warned areas.

• 🌡️ Huge temperature contrast: near 10°C in St. John’s, but Arctic cold (−30s) in Labrador pushing south.

• 💨 Strong winds develop later today, gusting 100–120 km/h in parts of southern and southeastern Newfoundland and the Northern Peninsula.

• 🚗 Poor travel conditions expected for the Northern Peninsula (Route 430 north of Deer Lake) and southeastern Labrador.

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Just after 6:00am this Friday morning, heavy rain is already falling across the Avalon Peninsula, and that rain will slowly work its way west as the morning goes on. Radar shows pockets of very heavy rain stretching from the Avalon back through Trinity Bay and toward Bay Roberts and Harbour Grace, with more rain lined up farther west across southern and southwestern Newfoundland.

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As the broader system pushes northward, much of the island will see rain today, while a very different story unfolds farther north.

Snow Takes Over in the North and Labrador

Across the Northern Peninsula and southeastern Labrador, precipitation is either already snow or will quickly flip to snow as colder air moves south. Snow will become heavier and steadier through the day, especially from St. Anthony south toward the Straits, and across southeastern Labrador, where up to 30 cm is possible in some areas under winter storm warnings.

Travel will be particularly challenging along Route 430 north of Deer Lake from this morning through this evening, and conditions in southeastern Labrador will also be poor.

An Extreme Temperature Contrast

This system is pulling very warm air northward while Arctic air remains locked over Labrador, creating an incredible temperature spread this morning. Around daybreak:

• St. John’s is near 10°C

• Miami is cooler than St. John’s

• Labrador West is near −36°C

That Arctic air will begin pushing south today, and it will play a major role in flipping rain to snow later on, especially across western Newfoundland and higher terrain.

Rainfall and Warnings

Rainfall warnings have expanded to cover much of Newfoundland, including areas from Port aux Basques eastward, along with parts of central and northeastern Newfoundland. Widespread rainfall totals of 15–25 mm, with localized amounts of 25–50 mm, are expected before things wind down overnight.

Eastern areas will see much of their rain earlier in the day, while central and western areas get into heavier rain through the afternoon.

Wind Becomes a Major Factor

Another key impact today will be strong winds. Wind warnings are in effect for much of southern and southeastern Newfoundland, as well as parts of the Northern Peninsula.

• Gusts 100–120 km/h are possible in exposed coastal areas

• Strongest winds expected midday through early evening

• Winds slowly ease overnight but remain gusty into Saturday morning

How Things End Tonight

As colder air takes over:

• Rain flips to snow across western Newfoundland late this afternoon or evening

• Snow continues in southeastern Labrador into late tonight

• Most precipitation winds down after midnight, except for higher terrain in western Newfoundland

• By Saturday morning, the entire province is back below freezing

I’ll have a more detailed weekend forecast later today. For now, this is a day to stay weather-aware, especially if you’re travelling in northern or exposed areas.

Stay safe, and have a good Friday.

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Updates to come throughout the day.

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🗺️ Check out the Map Room to see all the latest weather observations for the Province.

🎥 Check out the Provincial Highway Cams to see 👀 what’s going on around our highways and