Hurricane Fiona is on track to storm through Atlantic Canada and Quebec as forecasters are referring to it as a historic event with winds likely to top those of post-tropical storm Dorian in 2019. Heading northward, Fiona was expected to reach Nova Scotia waters by Friday night before passing through the eastern mainland part of the province, Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island tomorrow, and on to Quebec’s Lower North Shore and southeastern Labrador early Sunday. Bob Robichaud, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, says projections have shown “all-time” low pressure across the region that will bring storm surges, and rainfalls of between 100 and 200 millimetres of rain. He says it remains to be seen if the wind gusts will set records, but added the current expectation was that gusts would be stronger in some areas than the gusts of 150 kilometres per hour felt during Dorian when it made landfall.
All of PEI is under a Hurricane Warning, Rainfall Warning, Wind Warning and Storm Surge Warning. Strong category-1 hurricane force winds of 100 gusting to 140 km/h at exposed locations except 140 gusting to 160 km/h at the coast with surge of 1.8 to 2.4 meters and dangerous waves from 11 to 15 meters from Hurricane Fiona are expected.
The Hurricane Warning represents the region within the core of Hurricane / Severe Post-Tropical Fiona. Winds will likely gust to near category-two hurricane threshold, which is 160 km/h in some areas such as eastern Cape Breton and southwest Newfoundland east of the eye. Over PEI, the winds will be much colder and from the northwest and could gust up to 140 or 150 km/h. The Wind Warning has sustained winds for PEI north to northwesterly at 90 km/h with gusts of 120 km/h and up to 150 km/h over exposed areas. Heavy rain is expected with amounts pegged at 50 to 100 mm, with some areas maybe as much as 150 mm. The highest amounts are most likely over Kings County.
PEI could see extended power outages as it’s expected the strong winds will knock down trees given the full foliage on the trees and the soft soggy ground given the amount of rain we’ve already seen this week. The heavy rains and storm surge could result in flooding, road washouts and coastal damage.
Provincial Fire Marshal Dave Rossiter is asking people to check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and practice safe generator use as they ready for the hurricane. He says people should also be extra careful when handling candles or any cooking appliances during power outages.
Northumberland Ferries Limited is closely monitoring the marine weather forecast and conditions this weekend as Hurricane Fiona tracks offshore up the Atlantic coast. As a result, it’s advising that:
- MV Confederation and MV Saaremaa 1 service between Wood Islands and Caribou will be disrupted at times today and all Saturday sailings are cancelled.
For Friday, Northumberland Ferries has cancelled the 5:00pm and 7:00pm sailings from Wood Islands, and the 5:15pm and 6:30pm sailings from Caribou.
