When I read this book I got the feeling that Newfoundland was not a very nice place to live in, because of the weather. It seemed cold and grey. The fog, the majestic storms, pouring rain and violent winds are mentioned on several occasions in the book. One of the first experiences Quoyle and his two girls have with the weather on Newfoundland is when they are located in a motel on their way to Cillick-Claw.
“ A morning of hurling snow. Stupendous snores beyond the walls.”
 “The storm persisted another day, winds shrieking, drifting the main
highway.” “ In the night it turned to rain, the wind came from the south, warm and with a smell of creamy milk.”(Page 54-55).
 

I wanted to find out if the weather was as bad as I assumed after reading this book, because I did not believe it was. Actually, I think Newfoundland must be a marvellous and interesting place to visit mostly because of its majestic scenery.

The Newfoundland weather may vary a lot from the very north to the south of Newfoundland, and also from one place through the different seasons. The geographical zone where Newfoundland is has huge differences in the amount of energy received from the sun, and the winds  mostly blow from the west. The position of Newfoundland also leads to onshore and offshore airflow features. Other factors which influence the Newfoundland weather,are the cold water and the floating icebergs.

I am not quite sure which month Quoyle and his family moved to Newfoundland, but I do believe it is late summer at the time they leave. The summer in southern coastal areas on Newfoundland can be relatively cool overall, because sea surface temperatures of 10-13 degrees chill the prevailing onshore winds. Sea fog is very common. This rough weather Quoyle discovers when they catch a ferry to get to the island. The aunt is more used to it.

 “This place, she thought, this rock, six thousand miles of coast blind-
Wrapped in fog. Sunkers under wrinkled water, boats threading tickles between ice-scabbed cliffs.” (Page 32).

It can normally be quite wet in July and August on the coast, because of more frequent low-pressure systems in connection with stronger daytime heating over inland sections. Qoyle is surprised by the weather. He asks himself:
 “God, did it rain every day?” (Page 114)
It seems like he is fed up with it already.

There can be dry and sunny days on the island as well, especially in early summer, but they are very seldom mentioned in the book. In chapter eleven, when they finally decide to repair the old house and move out there, the sun is shining.
 “A bright day. The sea glazed, ornamented with gulls.”
 “Clouds, tined and serrated, and ocean the color of juice. The sun broke
the clouds like a trout on the line.” (Page 100).
It is as if it means a new beginning for Quoyle and his family.

Fall on Newfoundland normally starts from September with less energy received from the sun because of the shorter daylights hours, which leads to colder weather. Furthermore, the Atlantic Ocean is relatively slow to release heat. Therefore, the coastal sections on the island can be quite mild compared to areas further north. It can actually be up to 20 degrees for a couple of periods in September. In chapter 24 of “the Shipping News” the September weather is described almost like mentioned above.
 “SEPTEMBER, month of shortening days and chilling waters.”
 “Blunt fogbows in the morning trip around the bay. Humps of color followed
squalls, Billy Pretty babbled of lunar halos. Storms blew in and out. Sudden sleet changed to glowing violet rods, collapsed in rain. Two, three days of heat as though blown from a desert. Fibres of light crawling down the bay like luminous eels.”
(Page 190-191).

The first frost and the first snowfall can occur by late October or in November. This period is characterised by a marked upswing in the frequency of strong winds and precipitation, with moderate to heavy rainfalls.

The last day of October is described like this in the book:
“The sky was not red but almost black in the southwest. Storms on the way. Soon enough there would be frost on the glass, frost-fur on the sills, the edging of frost that gathered on the quilt where the breath condensed, the timbers of the house contracting in the arctic nights with explosive creakings and snappings. …And outside the ravenous wind in the cables, slamming down the chimney and sending rims of smoke up around the stovelids. (Page 225).

The winter varies in length from approximately six months in the north to four month in the south. In the book it is mentioned that the snow can last until late May. The first snowfall came on the first day of November.
“In the morning five inches of snow and blinding sunlight, a warm wind. Everything dripped and ran.” (Page 227)
 
 

The daily average temperature is below freezing point, 0 degrees. At the coast it is normally between –10 to –25 degrees. The strong winds make it even colder.
“On Saturday the fog was as dense as cotton waste, carried a coldness that ate into the bones.” (Page 234).

The temperatures can vary a lot through the winter.
“December storms are the most treacherous, changeable and cruel. You can go from the warm breeze to the polar blizzard in ten minutes.”
“That’s the weather we get now. Storms, then cold, then warm. A yo-yo up and down, coldest, warmest, strongest wind, highest tide.” (Page 274).

It seems as if the weather has great importance to the people living on Newfoundland. They have to rely on the weather when they are out on their ships fishing. In the Shipping News the weather also seems to have great importance. The weather can symbolise a change in Quoyle’s life, on his way to gain self-confident. One example is at the time when the winter is coming up. Quoyle has to take his own decisions for his girls and himself, when they no longer can live on Qyoule’s point. His aunt is leaving, so he has to trust his own decisions, which gradually makes him more self-confident.