Fiona Sets Records in Atlantic Canada, Damage Still Being Assessed

A lobster boat grounded on the rocks at the wharf in Stanley Bridge, P.E.I. on Sunday September 25, 2022. After hammering Atlantic Canada, post-tropical storm Fiona has moved inland in southeastern Quebec, with Environment Canada saying the storm will continue to weaken as it tracks across southeastern Labrador and over the Labrador Sea. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Brian McInnis)

While the entire impact of post-tropical storm Fiona will take some time to assess, it is already known to have broken some records.

According to the Canadian Hurricane Centre (CHC), Fiona set records for the lowest recorded barometric pressure in Canadian history at 932.7 millibars. The number was reported early on Sept. 25 with CHC noting they were still analyzing the data for accuracy.

On Sept. 24, Emergency Health Services in Nova Scotia recorded its highest one-day call volume, according to a news release.

A state of emergency was declared in the early morning of Sept. 24. Over 200 people in Cape Breton were evacuated due to fallen trees and property damage. On the afternoon of Sept. 24, the Weather Network reported that there were almost 400,000 customers in Nova Scotia without power, around 80,000 in PEI, around 40,000 in New Brunswick and about 3,000 in Newfoundland.

On the morning of Sept. 26, there were around 180,000 customers in Nova Scotia still without power, about 75,000 in P.E.I., about 8,000 in New Brunswick, and less than 1,000 in Newfoundland.

Further, large waves and storm surge contributed to record-setting water levels.

At Escuminac, New Brunswick, a level of 2.82 metres was recorded, higher than the previous record of 2.47 metres. In Port aux Basques, water levels reached 2.75 metres, breaking a previous high of 2.71 metres, according to the CHC.

The highest waves recorded through buoy and satellite detection systems averaged 12 to 15 metres, with peaks as high as 30 metres. This, combined with storm surge, resulted in “devastating flooding conditions, especially along the coastlines of southwestern Newfoundland, eastern and northern Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Northumberland and Gulf coastlines, east coast of New Brunswick, and Iles-de-la-Madeleine,” according to the CHC.

The highest winds recorded were in Arisaig, Nova Scotia, (179 kilometres per hour), Wreckhouse, Newfoundland (177 km/h) and Grand Etang, Nova Scotia (167 km/h).

Nova Scotia had the most significant share of rainfall. The highest level of precipitation was recorded in Osborne Head at 192 millimetres, but there were also unofficial reports of 200 mm of rain near Antigonish.

First Impact

According to the CHC, on Sept. 18, after levelling up in the Atlantic Ocean, Fiona became classified as a category 1 hurricane as it passed through the Caribbean, becoming a category 4 after clearing the region.

On Sept. 23, as Fiona was about to hit Nova Scotia, its wind levels lowered but then re-intensified between Sable Island and Nova Scotia, where hurricane-level winds were experienced over parts of the Maritimes and eastern Quebec.

Fiona hit land with category 2 hurricane winds near Whitehead, 28 km southwest of Canso, Nova Scotia, in the early morning on Sept. 24, according to the CHC.

Recovery Efforts

The federal government has sent the Canadian Armed Forces to help assess the hurricane’s impact, remove debris, and restore transportation routes. Federal Defence Minister Anita Anand said Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and P.E.I. would each be getting about 100 troops, with some already deployed.

On Sept. 25, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said what is needed most is food and shelter for those who had to evacuate.

The federal government has agreed to match donations to the Canadian Red Cross and is working with the provinces to determine the amount of financial support needed for each region. New Brunswick has already announced a disaster financial assistance program.

Blair said the priority is restoring all the power and ensuring roads are clear to send in supplies.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.