Weather - Newfoundland & Labrador ( )

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A land renowned for its independence and diversity, Newfoundland is home to a fascinating array of climates and weather. Its geography explains many of the unique features of the province's climate. The island covers 5 1/2 degrees of latitude, about the same as the Great Lakes. Its southern extremity lies close to the forty-seventh parallel, approximately the same latitude as Seattle and Paris. It covers an area of 108 860 km2, with elevations ranging from sea level to above 800 m.

There are few physical barriers to protect Newfoundland from weather systems sweeping across it. Its situation on the eastern side of North America favours strong seasonal contrasts in the visiting air masses.

<table class="bodytext" width="130" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><img align="left" src="http://www.web-max.ca/weather/trend.php?province=5"></td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#F3F3F3">Temperature averages for Newfoundland</td></tr></table>

Climatically, Newfoundland is the most maritime of the Atlantic Provinces, and this is evident in all seasons, but especially in spring and summer, which are quite cool by Canadian standards.

It is said Newfoundlanders live on, by, and from the sea. No place is more than 100 km from the ocean, and therefore every part of the island is subject to the year-round modifying influences of the encircling cold waters. Surface water temperatures on the Atlantic side range from summer highs of 11 to 13C inshore and 8 to 11C offshore to winter lows of -1 C inshore and +2C offshore. Sea temperatures on the Gulf side are warmer than the Atlantic side by 1 to 3C. The open sea keeps winter air temperatures a little higher and summer temperatures slightly lower on the coast than at places inland. The marine climate means generally more changeable weather, ample precipitation in a variety of forms (sometimes all at once), higher humidity, lower visibility, more cloud, less sunshine, and stronger winds than a continental climate.

Spring comes rather slowly and is short. Until late May, night-time averages in the interior are under 4C, and in many valley locations there is a 90% probability of frost on any night until the first week of June.

Summer is also short and cool. The glacial Labrador Current holds July average temperatures in coastal areas around 14C, but inland averages may climb over 16C. Sunny summer days in Newfoundland, however, are among the most delightful anywhere in Canada. With afternoon highs in the low twenties, they are warm enough to be comfortable and yet cool enough to permit vigorous activity. Summer 1987 was especially pleasant across central Newfoundland. Record high sunshine, scanty rainfall, and seasonable temperatures pleased most residents and tourists. The highest temperature ever recorded on the island is 36.7, occuring at Botwood, northeast of Grand Falls, on August 22, 1976.