Generally, frost is not a limiting factor for the growing of root vegetables, such as potatoes and turnips, which are the most important of the few crops grown in Newfoundland. With the exception of some stations on the north coast, yearly precipitation totals exceed 1000 mm everywhere across the island. The greatest amounts occur inland along the south coast between Port aux Basques and St. Albans, which lies in the path of Atlantic storms, and over the Long Range Mountains, which lie in the lee of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The south coast has annual totals exceeding 1650 mm, making this region the wettest in eastern Canada. Although precipitation is well distributed throughout the year, it is heaviest in fall, with November being the wettest month.
Spring is usually the driest time of the year.
Snowfall dominates winter precipitation. It is heavy, with normal amounts exceeding 300 cm at most places in the province. Along the south coast, however, snowfall totals are in the 200-300 cm range, less than elsewhere because much of the storm precipitation falls as rain. Some of the heaviest snowfalls occur at higher elevations along the west coast, when cold air outbreaks crossing the Gulf of St. Lawrence meet the Long Range Mountains. Snowfalls here total over 400 cm a year and are heaviest in January before the Gulf has frozen over.