ST. JOHN’S — Environment and Climate Change Canada is asking people along Newfoundland’s northeast coast to be prepared for power outages as a low-pressure weather system makes its way to the island. Meteorologist Ian Hubbard described the storm moving in from the Gulf of St. Lawrence as an “intense fall system,” though autumn does not technically begin until Sept. 22. He said winds will blow from the northwest at about 90 kilometres an hour on Saturday across much of the island, but gusts could reach 110 km/h along the northeast coast. Hubbard said trees and branches are more likely to be blown down because they still have leaves. An Environment Canada weather warning says damage is possible and it asks residents to secure loose or light objects, such as lawn chairs. The weather agency is also forecasting rainfall of up to 50 millimetres along the east coast of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula. The messy weather is expected to be over by Sunday morning. “This will probably be certainly one of the stronger (wind storms) we’ve seen in a while,” Hubbard said. “We’re just starting to move into that season where the storms start to get a little bit more intense.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2026.
