The storm is poised to become a “very strong” post-tropical storm by the time it reaches eastern Nova Scotia on Saturday morning, equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane, forecasters said Friday. Fiona, which forecasters have described as “historic,” is expected to bring hurricane-force winds and more than 100 millimeters of rain to much of the Maritimes and eastern Quebec. Closer to Fiona’s path, over 200mm of rain is expected to fall. Rain, thunderstorm and wind warnings are also in place for much of the region. Conditions on Cape Breton Island and Prince Edward Island are expected to be hazardous on Saturday, with Environment Canada warning of the potential for severe and damaging wind gusts, in addition to very high waves and a coastal storm surge. “Hurricane Fiona is expected to merge with a trough and become a dangerous post-tropical cyclone on Saturday,” reads a special weather statement for PEI “The combination of Fiona and the trough will produce very heavy rain beginning Friday the evening. Flooding and washed out roads are possible in some areas.” Nova Scotia and coastal areas of Nova Scotia are expected to experience strong surf, with Nova Scotia waves expected to rise to over 10 meters. Wave heights could be more than 12 meters in the eastern parts of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Environment Canada warns that storms of a similar nature have led to “extended outages and structural damage,” with buildings under construction particularly vulnerable. During Dorian in 2019, strong winds toppled a 73m tall construction crane in downtown Halifax. No one was injured but the crane caused damage to a 13-story building that was under construction. The weather service is encouraging Atlantic Canadians to prepare emergency kits ahead of the storm. They recommend stocking up on food and water for up to 72 hours, a means of charging cellphones if a landline isn’t available, and securing or removing outdoor furniture. “Environment Canada forecasters will continue to monitor the situation and provide more details as Fiona approaches,” Environment Canada’s statement said. Emergency Management Offices (EMOs) across the region continue to work closely with community partners to help protect Atlantic Canadians during Fiona. Jason Mew is the Director of Incident Management for the Nova Scotia EMO. He expects the storm to be very severe and says everyone should be prepared. Arrange things around their house like patio furniture, put together a 72-hour kit with enough water and food to last a few days, check on your neighbors and just make sure you have your meds on hand and if possible, by all means stay off the roads when we’re in the middle of the storm.” EMOs across the province have held several meetings and press conferences throughout the week with updates on how they are preparing and the support that will be offered. “We are activating the provincial coordination center this morning at 8 am. and all of our key partners — municipalities, provincial departments, federal key agencies and critical infrastructure partners — will be at the center of our operation and prioritizing restorations and looking at those impacts,” he said, adding that the wildland fire brigade. Mew says steps have also been taken to protect those living without a home. “We had municipal and provincial officials reach out to those who are living poorly and set up various comfort centers and shelters, with transportation to bring anyone who wants to evacuate to one of these centers, where they can spend the night, there is hot food and only one shelter away from the storm,” he said. In eastern Nova Scotia, Cape Breton officials are also continuing to closely monitor the storm. “Be prepared for the days of power outages after the storm and of course be very prepared for the flooding and the very high and damaging wind that we expect to happen,” said Christina Lamey, communications. officer of the regional municipality of Cape Breton. “Everybody needs to be prepared for that. It’s not exactly clear where the worst impacts will be,” Lamey said. “Generally speaking, it’s a hurricane-force blanket that blows across the area. That’s obviously a threat to anyone who has big trees around their house, which is right on the coast. There’s really no place to be safe from a storm like her in a very good way if you’re not prepared.” The municipality strongly advises residents to avoid travel during the storm. “Not just the risk of trees falling on your vehicle or the risk of power poles falling on your vehicles, but the risk of washed out roads in front of you.” This is a developing story and will be updated.
