‘Old guy with a ruler’ keeping Newfoundland informed through record-breaking snowfall

ST. JOHN’S — A 62-year-old retiree with an arsenal of rulers has been keeping people informed about snowfall in eastern Newfoundland during a record-breaking winter.

Lloyd Leaman has been diligently measuring snowfall in his backyard in Paradise, N.L., and posting the results to social media since January 2024.

When asked for an interview, Leaman joked that he never imagined an “old guy with a ruler” would be interesting to the media. But his careful measurements are regularly cited by Environment Canada meteorologists.

“That makes me feel good. It makes it feel like it’s worthwhile,” he told The Canadian Press at his home in Paradise, a community on the outskirts of Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital region.

Eastern Newfoundland has been pounded by a series of storms that left so much snow, residents were posting on social media looking for help getting out of their homes and driveways. On Wednesday, some of the snow piles lining driveways in Paradise were as tall as houses.

Monitors at the St. John’s International Airport had recorded 170.2 cm of snow so far this month as of Wednesday. That’s a new record for February, said Environment Canada meteorologist David Neal.

Another three centimetres would make this February the snowiest calendar month at the airport since records began in 1942, Neal said in an interview.

When he gave the latest snowfall totals in Paradise — nearly 154 centimetres from two storms in one week — Neal said the figures were unofficial, but from a “reliable observer that we’ve taken numbers from in the past.”

He was talking about Leaman.

Leaman is up early to begin his reporting. On Sunday, during the last big storm, he posted his first tally just after 5:30 a.m. to the BlueSky and X social media platforms. He followed up almost every hour until 9:30 p.m., when he reported a staggering total of 79.5 cm.

“Thank you for all your efforts!” responded one of his followers.

He uses a 30-cm ruler for smaller storms, and a “yard stick-type ruler” for whoppers. He has already had to replace one after the paint wore off and it became difficult to read.

Leaman uses a spot between his house and his shed to take his measurements. It’s high enough to catch the accumulation, he said, and it’s also protected on three sides from the wind.

Another volunteer weather tracker also takes measurements nearby and Leaman said he is always pleased when he and his colleague produce similar numbers.

Environment Canada meteorologists are careful about whose data they use, and sources are carefully vetted, Neal said. Some volunteer weather watchers work on their own, like Leaman. Others are part of national organizations, such as the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network.

Leaman said it was exciting to have so much snow fall, and to be part of it in a meaningful way. Though he admitted it was a pain to shovel.

He said he comes by his fascination with the weather naturally. People love to talk about the weather in Newfoundland and Labrador, a province known for its hurricanes, wind and blizzards, he said.

“It’s in my blood, as a person from Newfoundland and Labrador to be engaged in what the weather is all about.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2026.

Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press