Wreckhouse, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Wreckhouse is a geographic location in the Canadian
province of Newfoundland and Labrador
that is well known for extremely high winds.
Situated at the southern end of the Long Range Mountains
at the western mouth of the Codroy Valley
, the name originated because high winds - often well in excess of hurricane force - would occasionally blow railway cars on the narrow gauge
trains operated by the Newfoundland Railway
completely off the track.. The word "Wreckhouse" was added to the Canadian Oxford Dictonary in 2004. Although the railway was closed in 1988, the winds are still a hazard to vehicles on Highway 1 and transport trucks occasionally get blown off the road.
Lochie MacDougal, a farmer and trapper, was born in 1896 and lived at Wreckhouse. He had a natural sixth sense to the changes in the weather and this ability allowed him to be employed by Robert Gillespie Reid
, whose company built the Newfoundland Railway
. MacDougal would inform the railway if it was safe for trains to pass, performing this task for thirty years until his death in 1965. His wife continued on with the task until she moved away from the area in 1972.
An anemometer
operated by the Meteorological Service of Canada
currently provides remote wind data for the Newfoundland and Labrador weather office in Gander
which distributes warnings to travelers should the speed be sufficient. The term Wreckhouse Winds is used by the MSC to specifically refer to dangerous wind conditions in this geographic area.
3:45 PM NST Wednesday 15 December 2010
Wreckhouse wind warning for
Channel-Port aux Basques - Burgeo continued
Southeasterly wind gusts up to 110 km/h over the Wreckhouse region will diminish below warning criteria tonight.
A trough of low pressure from Central Québec to the Maritimes will drift slowly northeastward and weaken overnight.
Strong east to southeasterly winds with gusts up to 110 km/hour in the Wreckhouse area are expected to weaken near midnight. Wind gusts along parts of the west coast have subsided below warning criteria but will remain strong with gusts up to 80 km/hour.
Meanwhile another low pressure system is expected to develop south of Nova Scotia and track towards Newfoundland on Thursday. Winds in the Wreckhouse region will begin to strengthen late in the day Thursday with gusts to 80 km/hour expected in the evening. The gusts will diminish overnight as the winds veer to the southwest.
Additionally, very high waves and heavy pounding surf will affect the southwest coast until Thursday.
Source: Environment Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
that is well known for extremely high winds.
Situated at the southern end of the Long Range Mountains
Long Range Mountains
The Long Range Mountains are a series of mountains along the west coast of the Canadian island of Newfoundland. They also form the northernmost section of the Appalachian chain on the eastern seaboard of North America...
at the western mouth of the Codroy Valley
Codroy Valley
The Codroy Valley is a valley in the southwestern part of the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.The Codroy Valley is a glacial valley formed in the Anguille Mountains, a sub-range of the Long Range Mountains which run along Newfoundland's west coast...
, the name originated because high winds - often well in excess of hurricane force - would occasionally blow railway cars on the narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
trains operated by the Newfoundland Railway
Newfoundland Railway
The Newfoundland Railway was a railway which operated on the island of Newfoundland from 1898 to 1988. With a total track length of , it was the longest narrow gauge railway system in North America.-Early construction:...
completely off the track.. The word "Wreckhouse" was added to the Canadian Oxford Dictonary in 2004. Although the railway was closed in 1988, the winds are still a hazard to vehicles on Highway 1 and transport trucks occasionally get blown off the road.
Lochie MacDougal, a farmer and trapper, was born in 1896 and lived at Wreckhouse. He had a natural sixth sense to the changes in the weather and this ability allowed him to be employed by Robert Gillespie Reid
Robert Gillespie Reid
Sir Robert Gillespie Reid was a Scottish railway contractor most famous for building large railway bridges in Canada and the United States...
, whose company built the Newfoundland Railway
Newfoundland Railway
The Newfoundland Railway was a railway which operated on the island of Newfoundland from 1898 to 1988. With a total track length of , it was the longest narrow gauge railway system in North America.-Early construction:...
. MacDougal would inform the railway if it was safe for trains to pass, performing this task for thirty years until his death in 1965. His wife continued on with the task until she moved away from the area in 1972.
An anemometer
Anemometer
An anemometer is a device for measuring wind speed, and is a common weather station instrument. The term is derived from the Greek word anemos, meaning wind, and is used to describe any airspeed measurement instrument used in meteorology or aerodynamics...
operated by the Meteorological Service of Canada
Meteorological Service of Canada
The Meteorological Service of Canada , also known as "The Canadian Weather Service", is a division of Environment Canada, which primarily provides public meteorological information and weather forecasts and warnings of severe weather and other environmental hazards...
currently provides remote wind data for the Newfoundland and Labrador weather office in Gander
Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
Gander is a Canadian town located in the northeastern part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately south of Gander Bay, south of Twillingate and east of Grand Falls-Windsor...
which distributes warnings to travelers should the speed be sufficient. The term Wreckhouse Winds is used by the MSC to specifically refer to dangerous wind conditions in this geographic area.
Popular culture
Wreckhouse also provides inspiration for Wreckhouse Jazz & Blues, producers of the Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival.Sample Warning
Channel-Port aux Basques - Burgeo3:45 PM NST Wednesday 15 December 2010
Wreckhouse wind warning for
Channel-Port aux Basques - Burgeo continued
Southeasterly wind gusts up to 110 km/h over the Wreckhouse region will diminish below warning criteria tonight.
A trough of low pressure from Central Québec to the Maritimes will drift slowly northeastward and weaken overnight.
Strong east to southeasterly winds with gusts up to 110 km/hour in the Wreckhouse area are expected to weaken near midnight. Wind gusts along parts of the west coast have subsided below warning criteria but will remain strong with gusts up to 80 km/hour.
Meanwhile another low pressure system is expected to develop south of Nova Scotia and track towards Newfoundland on Thursday. Winds in the Wreckhouse region will begin to strengthen late in the day Thursday with gusts to 80 km/hour expected in the evening. The gusts will diminish overnight as the winds veer to the southwest.
Additionally, very high waves and heavy pounding surf will affect the southwest coast until Thursday.
Source: Environment Canada