Late on Friday, Hurricane Fiona changed its classification to a post-tropical cyclone, but meteorologists said it still had the potential to be one of the worst storms in American history, bringing hurricane-force winds, torrential rain, and large waves to the Atlantic Canada area.
Fiona, which had a Category 4 storm rating when it began the day but had dropped to a Category 2 storm by Friday night, was still “generating high gusts and extremely heavy rains” across Nova Scotia. It was anticipated to touch down in Nova Scotia early on Saturday morning.
Over vast coastal stretches of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, the agency has issued hurricane and tropical storm warnings.
As of late Friday night, utility firm Nova Scotia Power said on its website that the storm had caused more than 185,000 customers to lose power.
In a warning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States predicted that Fiona will traverse Nova Scotia on Saturday and approach the Gulf of St. Lawrence. By late Sunday, it will have arrived in the Labrador Sea.
Fiona is likely to retain hurricane-force winds into Saturday morning, the NHC said, adding that certain regions of Atlantic Canada might see a “dangerous storm surge,” which is anticipated to result in coastal flooding.
Fiona had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph as of Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time, according to the NHC. It was moving north at a speed of 46 mph and was located around 140 miles east of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Fiona may bring 3 to 6 inches of rain to western Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia, according to the NHC. Eastern Quebec and Labrador might get 2 to 5 inches.
According to Ian Hubbard, a meteorologist at the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, “this is clearly going to be one of, if not the most powerful, tropical cyclones to impact this region of the country.” “It’s going to be as terrible and as horrible as any I’ve seen,” the speaker said.
According to Hubbard, the storm was losing power as it crossed over colder water, and it was very improbable that a hurricane-force storm would make landfall. Because the storms lose their primary source of energy as they enter cooler waters, hurricanes are not common in Canada. and move beyond the tropics. However, despite having a cold core rather than a warm one and no discernible eye, such cyclones may nonetheless produce winds comparable to hurricanes. They may also vary in form. They become less symmetrical and might take on a more comma-like appearance.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau predicted a negative outcome on Friday. “Of course, we hope there won’t be much of a need, but we believe there most likely be. And for that, we’ll be there. For the next 24 hours, we urge everyone to remain safe, pay attention to local authorities’ recommendations, and persevere.”
Authorities in Nova Scotia issued a phone emergency notice informing residents of the impending arrival of Fiona and advising them to stay indoors, stay away from beaches, charge their electronics, and stock up on supplies for at least 72 hours. Authorities issued warnings of extended power outages, wind damage to buildings and trees, coastal flooding, and potential road washouts.
Prince Edward Island, Isle-de-la-Madeleine, Newfoundland from Parson’s Pond to Francois, Nova Scotia from Hubbards to Brule, and Isle-de-la-Madeleine were all under a hurricane warning.
In preparation for the storm, people in Atlantic Canada stocked up on last-minute necessities and storm-proofed their homes on Friday.
Jordan David was assisting his buddy Kyle Boudreau with securing his lobster boat “Bad Influence” at Samsons Enterprises boatyard in Petit-de-Grat, a tiny Acadian settlement on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, in the hopes that the vessel wouldn’t be lifted and damaged by winds.
“We can only make the best preparations we can and hope for the best. There’s something coming, but it’s unclear how terrible it will be “David, dressed in his waterproof camping gear, stated.
Kyle Boudreau expressed his concern.
“Our livelihood is this. Our boats and traps have been damaged. It’s a list of things you can start next season without,” said he.
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s Amanda McDougall said workers were putting up a shelter that residents could enter before the storm hit.
We have had similar situations in the past, but not to this degree, she feared. “The effects will be significant, tangible, and immediate.”
Nova Scotia Power’s chief operating officer, Dave Pickles, said that the company anticipated significant power interruptions.
At least five fatalities have been linked to Fiona so far, including two in Puerto Rico, two in the Dominican Republic, and one in Guadeloupe, a French territory.
Fiona hit Bermuda early on Friday with strong winds and precipitation when it was still a Category 4 storm.
Authorities there shuttered schools and workplaces and provided shelters. The national security minister, Michael Weeks, said there had been no reports of significant damage.
Fiona devastated Puerto Rico before it reached Bermuda, which prompted U.S. President Joe Biden to declare on Thursday that the whole federal government is prepared to assist the U.S. territory in recovering.
We’re all in this together, Vice President Biden said at a meeting with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials in New York.
In Puerto Rico, where Fiona triggered an island-wide blackout, Mr. Biden pointed out that hundreds of FEMA and other government employees had already arrived on the island.
Thursday saw a third of customers without water and more than 60% of customers without electricity, according to local authorities who were unable to predict when service would be completely restored.
Five days after the storm struck Puerto Rico, hundreds of residents were still cut off by closed highways as of Friday.
Nancy Galarza was becoming more frustrated as she attempted to ask construction teams she saw in the distance for assistance.
She motioned to the workers at the base of the mountain who were assisting others who had also been cut off by the storm, saying, “Everyone go over there.” “Nobody stops by to visit us. I am concerned about every senior citizen in our neighbourhood.”
The high slopes surrounding the northern town of Caguas were blanketed in at least five landslides, blocking the short road leading to her settlement. Fiona’s floods, which rocked the foundations of neighbouring houses with an earthquake-like power, had left massive piles of mud, rock, and debris that had to be traversed in order to get to the hamlet.
According to Luis González, municipal inspector of recovery and restoration, at least eight of the 11 villages in Caguas were totally cut off.
One of at least six municipalities whose personnel hadn’t yet reached all regions was this one. People there often rely on assistance from their neighbours, as they did in the wake of Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 hurricane that killed up to 3,000 people in 2017.
With a religious group, Danciel Rivera travelled to rural Caguas and attempted to spread some joy by dressed as a clown.
He said that individuals had never completely recovered from Hurricane Maria and that was crucial at this time.
As he welcomed people, their faces lighted up as they grinned at him. His enormous clown shoes squelched in the muck.
Meanwhile, the NHC said late on Friday night that Tropical Storm Ian in the Caribbean may possibly become a hurricane by the time it makes landfall in Florida on Monday and produce flash flooding.
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida responded by announcing a state of emergency.
Before it reached South Florida, the storm was predicted to dump significant amounts of rain on Jamaica, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands.