Hurricane Rafael to reach Newfoundland with minimal impact

Hurricane Rafael won’t have much impact on land in Newfoundland, although some parts of the province could see “enhanced rainfall” over the next few days, the Canadian Hurricane Centre said Tuesday.

The storm was upgraded to category one hurricane status late Monday, as it passed south of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 140 km per hour. It is expected to reach the Newfoundland area by late Wednesday.  

As it passes over cooler waters toward the Grand Banks area, it will likely weaken, the Halifax-based centre noted. The storm will still be a “fairly large and powerful cyclone” when it passes south or over Grand Banks on Wednesday and Thursday, likely bringing heavy rain to the Avalon Peninsula, the centre said. 

The centre has also forecast gale to storm-force winds across the Grand Banks late Wednesday and early Thursday. The storm’s marine impact will be much greater, it noted. 

In September, tropical storm Leslie made landfall in Newfoundland, leading to rain and wind damage throughout parts of the province.