Large waves and swells drew the attention of many onlookers at Middle Cove Beach yesterday—caused by a system off Greenland.
Videos were quick to surface on social media, showing large waves along the coastline, with some commenting on how it’s rare to see the sea so angry.
"It took the sea a thousand years,
A thousand years to trace
The granite features of this cliff,
In crag and scarp and base." E. J. PrattLunchtime view at Middle Cove Beach today #nlwx pic.twitter.com/z4FprdzwcL
— Karen Hoddinott (@karenseward6) January 27, 2021
With the sights drawing the attention of residents, safety concerns are top-of-mind for the town council.
Deputy Mayor of Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove, James Cadigan, asking residents to be cautious.
He says it’s tough to gauge just how rough the swells and waves are. As well, the beach is very slippery this time of year. Cadigan says to obey all signage pertaining to the beach and to keep your distance—specifically mentioning the popular ice wall.
Quite a few people down watching the waves. Please be careful & don't let your kids go near the beach! The ocean is unpredictable & fierce. Beautiful to look at but from a distance! Sounds so loud too! #nlwx #LBMCOC #nltraffic #MiddleCoveBeach pic.twitter.com/MO2iUxO6Aa
— Ashley (@Ashley_LBMCOC) January 27, 2021
Please be careful when visiting beach in Middle Cove. There are people trying to get down on beach with tripods! PLEASE becareful!! @townoflbmcoc #LBMCOC #nlwx #nltraffic @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/hEWCUOJgJL
— Ashley (@Ashley_LBMCOC) January 27, 2021
Dale Foote, a meteorologist with Environment Canada at the Gander weather office, explains how it all came to be with relatively light winds on the east coast.
He says a deep but stationary low-pressure system moved off Newfoundland a couple of days ago and parked itself to the southeast of Greenland.
To the north of that low, there were widespread gale storm-force northeasterly winds for multiple days. Foote says it was there long enough to generate a northeasterly swell that made its way all the way down to the northeast coast of Newfoundland including Middle Cove.
Chaos at Cape Bonavista today! #nlwx #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/ehjR2gyk6N
— Mark Gray 🇨🇦 (@GrayMarker99) January 27, 2021
View from Middle Cove Lookout today! Wild seas. #nlwx #shareyourweather @townoflbmcoc pic.twitter.com/qBecHbnREy
— Andrea Peddle (@AndreaInTorbay) January 27, 2021
