This truck blew over in the Wreckhouse area of southwestern Newfoundland early Thursday morning, as high winds raced through the area. (Courtesy Wayne Osmond)

Extremely high winds have prompted the RCMP to urge drivers, especially truckers, to stay off a section of the Trans-Canada Highway on the southwest coast of Newfoundland that is notorious for dangerous winds.

A transport truck was blown over on the highway overnight Wednesday in the Wreckhouse area, between the community of Doyles and Port aux Basques.

RCMP said the trucker parked his vehicle on the side of the road at about 2 a.m. because the winds were becoming too dangerous to keep travelling. By 7 a.m. they were even stronger, and the truck was blown over.

The driver wasn't injured.

Crews haven't been able to get into the area to remove the truck because winds were still blowing at about 140 km/h on Thursday afternoon. Blowing snow was also creating whiteout conditions at times.

The Wreckhouse area is named for the extremely high winds that funnel through the Long Range Mountains in southwestern Newfoundland.

It is the only highway route connecting the ferry terminal at Port aux Basques and the rest of the island.