If the people of Newfoundland and Labrador say they’re having bad weather, it must be pretty bad.
The past couple of weeks in Canada’s most eastern province have been wet and cold ones, to say the least.
Temperatures dropped as low as 6 degrees C and winds were recorded as high as nearly 60 kilometers an hour.
Airport delays
The airport in St. John’s has faced flight cancellations and delays, causing logistical problems for travellers in the middle of tourist season.
Construction at the province’s major airport hasn’t helped either.
The primary runway at St. John’s International Airport has been closed since June 1 and won’t reopen until the end of September, CBC Newfoundland and Labrador reports.
The secondary runway, which was cut short due to construction, reopened at its full length on Wednesday, according to a news release.
The weather, however, still didn’t co-operate.
Secondary runway is open with Cat 1 capability. Flights are starting to arrive. #nltraffic #nlwx pic.twitter.com/1yHW5TFMwk
— St. John's Airport (@stjohnsairport) July 22, 2015
One of the coldest on record
This July’s average high temperature is one of the coldest on record since 1942, CBC reported.
On a positive note:
5 coldest Julys at St. John's YYT, were followed by a 'warmer' Aug: https://t.co/4C8OWWdJ9f
#nlwx pic.twitter.com/ItxKRovAzb
— Ryan Snoddon (@ryansnoddon) July 20, 2015
In true Newfoundlander fashion, people tried to make light of the situation.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador created a Facebook contest to find the best nicknames for the cold summer.
Congrats to today’s winners and stay tuned for the NEXT pop-up giveaway!Darlene ToopeDonna KennedyBrenda...
Posted by CBC Newfoundland and Labrador on Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Some include:
- Jugly (July+ ugly)
- WITMOS (Winter in the middle of summer)
- Jucember
- ju-lied-about-summer
The winners got a custom made T-shirt with the slogan, “Keep Calm and Snodd On” – a play on local CBC weatherman Ryan Snoddon’s name.
The #NLwx has not been great.
So the CBC communication dept has decided to get creative:
https://t.co/NgKiSzaDbo pic.twitter.com/TG9TMWqNEe
— Ryan Snoddon (@ryansnoddon) July 17, 2015
The hastag also #julyuary started to take hold.
I'll wear wooly vamps in July but I refuse to turn on the furnace!!! #nlwx #julyuary pic.twitter.com/cK22BF1OB3
— Krista Austin (@BikerMissus) July 22, 2015
I teach winter outdoor skills @MemorialU If you would like a winter survival course this week, let me know! #julyuary pic.twitter.com/DyGrKB3qiJ
— TA Loeffler (@taloeffler) July 22, 2015
Considering using my remote starter for my car this morning #julyuary
— Ashley Thorne (@ashleyythorne) July 21, 2015
Police take action
People got so tired of the cold weather that the the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary issued an official missing season release for “SUMMER (June 21 – September 23, 2015).”
**MEDIA RELEASE** RNC Search for Missing Season: #SUMMER #nlwx #nltraffic @ryansnoddon @EddieSheerr pic.twitter.com/A9Zar0ZR2n
— RNC (@RNC_PoliceNL) July 22, 2015
The release says summer was “last seen in early August 2014”. It was last described as being “between 20 – 30 degrees Celsius, blue skies with a bright warm source of light in the sky,” the release states.
“There have been sporadic sightings of this bright object, but these sighting have been rare since May 2015.”
The release also identifies two “persons of interest”: Eddie Sheerr and Ryan Snoddon, the two local TV weathermen.
Not long after it was issued, police arrested their suspects.
Yes, that's NL's most-wanted @ryansnoddon being taken away by @RNC_PoliceNL for crimes against #nlwx pic.twitter.com/bZtSraV8Mp
— CBC Newfoundland (@CBCNL) July 22, 2015
One down... One to go! #nlwx We're coming for you next @EddieSheerr... https://t.co/YgYR6eMp8f
— RNC (@RNC_PoliceNL) July 22, 2015
The @RNC_PoliceNL burst into @NTVNewsNL and hauled me in for lack of summer! Here's how it all went down! https://t.co/emjmw0jSUh #NLwx
— Eddie Sheerr (@EddieSheerr) July 23, 2015
A little hope goes a long way
Thursday morning offered a glimmer of hope to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador - the clouds parted just enough for some sunlight to twinkle through.
So, naturally, people tweeted about it.
Omg. The sun just came out!! Literally heard 3 people in the office gasp. #nlwx
— Amelia Reimer (@amelia_reimer) July 23, 2015
IS THAT THE SUN I SEE??? #nlwx
— Tyler Cramm (@CrammTyler) July 23, 2015
A glimpse of sun for the first time in... weeks or months? Spotted @CommonGroundNL. #virtualoffice #nlwx #yyt pic.twitter.com/Mm6atGrUTI
— Antenna Social (@AntennaSocial) July 23, 2015
BREAKING: it's kinda bright in the Narrows. #NLwx #countingchickens pic.twitter.com/XhTeb8Y7p0
— Deirdre Ayre (@deirdreayre) July 23, 2015