Hurricane Fiona transformed into a post-tropical cyclone late Friday, but meteorologists warned it could still bring hurricane-strength wind, heavy rain and big waves to the Atlantic Canada region and had the potential to be one of the most severe storms in the country’s history.
Fiona, which started the day as Category 4 storm but weakened to Category 2 strength late Friday, was already “producing severe winds and very heavy rainfall” over Nova Scotia late Friday night, the Canadian Hurricane Centre wrote in an advisory. It was forecast to make landfall in Nova Scotia in the early morning hours Saturday.
The agency had issued hurricane and tropical storm warnings over extensive coastal expanses of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.
As of late Friday night, utility company Nova Scotia Power reported on its website that more than 185,000 customers were without power as a result of the storm.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory that Fiona would move across Nova Scotia and into the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Saturday. It will reach the Labrador Sea by late Sunday.
“Although gradual weakening is forecast during the next couple of days, Fiona is expected to maintain hurricane-force winds through Saturday morning,” the NHC wrote, adding that some areas of Atlantic Canada could see a “dangerous storm surge” which is expected to cause coastal flooding.
As of 11 p.m. EDT Friday, the NHC said Fiona had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. It was centered about 140 miles east of Halifax, Nova Scotia, heading north at 46 mph.
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and western Newfoundland could receive 3 to 6 inches of rain from Fiona, the NHC reported. Labrador and eastern Quebec could get 2 to 5 inches.
“This is definitely going to be one of, if not the most powerful, tropical cyclones to affect our part of the country,” said Ian Hubbard, meteorologist for the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. “It’s going to be definitely as severe and as bad as any I’ve seen.”
Hubbard said the storm was weakening as it moved over cooler water and he felt it highly unlikely it would reach land with hurricane strength. Hurricanes in Canada are somewhat rare, in part because once the storms reach colder waters, they lose their main source of energy. and become extratropical. But those cyclones still can have hurricane-strength winds, though with a cold instead of a warm core and no visible eye. Their shape can be different, too. They lose their symmetric form and can more resemble a comma.
“It’s going to a bad one,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday. “We of course hope there won’t be much needed, but we feel there probably will be. And we will be there for that. In the meantime we encourage everyone to stay safe and to listen to the instructions of local authorities and hang in there for the next 24 hours.”
Authorities in Nova Scotia sent an emergency alert to phones warning of Fiona’s arrival and urging people to say inside, avoid coastlines, charge devices and have enough supplies for at least 72 hours. Officials warned of prolonged power outages, wind damage to trees and structures and coastal flooding and possible road washouts.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Nova Scotia from Hubbards to Brule; Prince Edward Island; Isle-de-la-Madeleine; and Newfoundland from Parson’s Pond to Francois.
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