Is May 2-4 weather in N.L. actually the worst?

Ahh, spring. The chirping birds, the bursting buds, the slap of wet snow on the camper windshield.

"It's the traditional May 2-4 weekend for sure in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Rodney Barney, a meteorologist at the weather office in Gander.

Barney, along with everyone else in the area, began Day 2 of the Victoria Day long weekend by looking out to see sloppy wet snow soaking the ground.

"Now that has since changed to drizzle and the temperature's risen to a balmy 1 C in Gander," he said.

"And that's what we're looking at for the rest of the day: drizzle, rain, showers at times mixed with a few flurries."

The May 24 weekend has a reputation for horrendous weather — and Barney said that reputation is well-earned.

"I mean, six years ago in Gander we were digging out from 60 centimetres of snow on the long weekend," he recalled.

Fun times.

Maybe next weekend?

The source of the grey skies and the cold rain-snow-slush combo falling from the skies over the most of the island Sunday is a cool, damp, low-pressure system just to the east of the island.

For all those suffering under its wrath, there isn't much good news either for the holiday on Monday: "The system is going to be very slow to move away."

But on Tuesday, as everyone heads back indoors for work, things will brighten up, Barney said. Later in the week, there's another system coming in to bring back the grey skies, he said.

"But maybe next weekend? We do see some indications of an improving trend for next weekend."

The real holiday destination? Labrador

Though it's grim for most of the Avalon and the coast of Labrador, folks in central and western Labrador have bright, sunny skies and temperatures climbing into the teens.

Communities like Burgeo and Harbour Breton along the south coast of the island are also enjoying sunshine and spring-like temperatures approaching double-digits, Barney said.

"Even on parts of the west coast, the sun is starting to break out now."

But for those in the rest of the province, he's got just once piece of advice: "Hang in there."

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