Newfoundland town ‘at the mercy of the sea’ as intense storm pounds the coast

A Newfoundland flag flies in the wind in Rocky Harbour, Nfld., on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

ST. JOHN’S — Wanda Waddleton said she was waiting for the worst on Tuesday as an intense storm sent waves crashing over the seawall in her community along Newfoundland’s southern shore.

The mayor of Trepassey, N.L., said the seawall -- or breakwater -- had been damaged in a storm last year. What remained was no match for the powerful, low-pressure system set to lash much of the province overnight on Tuesday, Waddleton said.

Two families had already been asked to evacuate, she said in an interview at about 6 p.m. local time.

“We’re at the mercy of the sea,” Waddleton said. “It’s high tide now. I’m expecting two to four hours of really severe winds and damaging waves.”

“I’m expecting a lot of damage to be done this very evening,” she added.

Environment Canada warned of storm surge and coastal flooding across much of the southern Avalon Peninsula until Wednesday morning as the storm churned just offshore. Images on social media showed ocean water overflowing onto land in communities along the coast. Peak wind gusts near Trepassey hit 165 kilometres an hour by 6:30 p.m.

In Carbonear, N.L., on the north side of the Avalon Peninsula, the local heritage society shared footage of a wooden fishing boat being thrown about by roaring waves.

And in parts of central, western and northern Newfoundland, it snowed. Environment Canada said residents in some areas could expect up to 20 centimetres.

More than 8,500 people were without power across the island as of 7:25 p.m.

Trepassey is about 105 kilometres southwest of St. John’s and home to roughly 400 people. The families that had been asked to evacuate live in the lower coast area, which is a strip of land that stretches out along Trepassey’s harbour. Waves were pounding a local road, and the route to the lower coast had to be barricaded, Waddleton said.

She spoke to The Canadian Press from her own home in the area, which is on higher ground. She had generators ready, as did her neighbours, she said.

She had encouraged the remaining two dozen lower coast residents to seek shelter at her place if they ran into trouble.

“The waves are coming in the whole length of the breakwater,” Waddleton said. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2025

Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press