Municipalities on the island have spent the past couple of days preparing for a watery onslaught from Mother Nature.

The big melt began yesterday as rain moved into the west coast. They could get as much as 100 mm while the east, south and central are in in for 50 or 60 mm. There are wind warnings out with gusts over 100 km/h in the east this afternoon and tonight, and a flash freeze warning as temperatures will plummet from plus 8 to minus 6 overnight.

Four years ago the infrastructure on the west coast took a battering when heavy rains and significant snow depth ere just the perfect circumstances for heavy flooding and washouts.

The City of Corner Brook assures that a sufficient number of sandbags is on hand and that priority catch basins have been cleared. Additional staff are on hand. If anyone has or sees water issues, they can report it by calling 637-1666.