Most intense storm on the planet pounding Newfoundland and Labrador, say officials

Newfoundland and Labrador is in the throes of the "most intensestorm" on the planet, according to a meteorologist in Gander.

Wild, whipping winds gusting upwards of130 km/h are causing huge waves,delays, cancellations and closuresacross the province.

"[It's] not fun to be out in, or drive anywhere in," saidTabeaFiechter, a meteorologistwith the weather office in Gander.

As of 12:40 p.m., there were 10,000 customers in the province without power because of severe weather and winds, according to Newfoundland Power.

"Unfortunately, with the continuing high winds and blowing snow in many areas, new outages are occurring,"MicheleCoughlan, a Newfoundland Power representative, said in an email Thursday afternoon.

Trees have blown over into power lines and whiteout conditions are making repairsdifficult, she told TheSt. John's Morning Show on Thursday morning.

"It's not just one or two trees, it's seven trees, five trees. And as you get one tree removed the crews are finding that there are other trees that have come into line."

Central Newfoundland has been hit the hardest with blackouts because of trouble on the main transmissionline serving the areas of Twillingate and Summerford.

In the FogoIsland and Change Islands area, people may be without power until 8 p.m. Thursday, she said.

"Two important structures that support that line are severely damaged."

Swaying stacks at Holyrood

Over in Holyrood, one of the exhaust stacks on the Holyroodgenerating station was swaying in the high winds, according to Erin Squires, a spokesperson for Newfoundland Hydro.

She said the swaying stack doesn't pose a threat to anybody's safety, nor the island'ssupply of hydro, but that non-essential staff were sent home "as a precautionary measure."

She said it was abnormal for the wind to affecta stack like that, "but we don't often get winds that are this high."

Two of the station's three generators are currently working, she said, including the unit with the swaying stack. The third is down for scheduled maintenance.

Flying debris and crashing waves

In St. John's, flying debris has shut down Prince Philip Drive from Westerland Road to Morrissey Road.

EnvironmentCanada has issuedwind warnings formost of the Avalon, with storm surge warnings affecting the northeast and eastcoasts of the peninsula.

More exposed areas of the northeast Avalon coast like Bonavista and Twillingate are ducking under sustained winds of 100 km/h and gusts of 140 km/h,Fiechtersaid.

With that wind, nine-metrewaves are pounding that coastline, she said.

"[There is] definitely potential for damage in those areas."

Out inthe Grand Banks, she said, those waves are reaching 11 metres.

The Northern Peninsula and west coast of the island are under winter stormwarnings.

Wind warnings have been issued forMakkovikandRigolet, while the rest of the Labrador coast braces under winter storm warnings.

Many flights at the St. John's International Airport, the Gander Airport and the Deer Lake airport are cancelled or delayed.

Marine Atlantic has cancelled its crossings for the day, and Labrador Marine says the Apollo ferry will likely stay tied up today as well.

All schools in Gander and Corner Brook have also been closed for the morning, and many schools in Labrador, central Newfoundland and the Avalon region have been delayed for the morning.

For the latest updates on closures, delays and cancellations, check out ourNewfoundland Storm Centreand our Labrador Storm Centre.

Blowing snow

The west coast has seen a bit of snow, most notably in areas in higher elevations around Marble Mountain and Deer Lake, she said.

The concern is not the accumulation, which will be minimal, she said, but the effects of the wind on that snow.

"It doesn't take a lot of snow with this kind of wind to really reduce visibility," she said.

There is a blowing snow advisory for Gander, and drivers inTwillingate, and Bonavistawill also have a tough time seeing the road ahead, she said.

Winds to subside Thursday night

Winds will start to die down Thursdayafternoon in most areas, Fietchersaid, but only slightly those exposed areas along the northeast Avalon coast will still have gusts up to 110 km/h throughout the afternoon.

Throughout the night, she said, winds will stay gusting between 50 km/h and 80 km/h, and will then start slowing down.

Power is expected to be restored to the Twillingate and Summerfordareas in the early hours of the morning, according to Newfoundland Power.

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