Hurricane Fiona is currently on track to make landfall in Atlantic Canada as a possible Category 3 storm beginning early Saturday morning. And while its effects will be felt mostly in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, eastern parts of New Brunswick will likely see strong winds and storm surges, said preparedness warning meteorologist Jill Maepea. “Eastern New Brunswick should definitely be preparing now for … several days without power,” Maepea said in an interview. “We’re expecting those strong winds and with some trees in full leaf … the trees can be uprooted a lot easier than maybe in the winter when we have bigger storms and strong winds of the same level.” Maepea said it’s also wise for residents in New Brunswick to have an emergency kit ready with water and food that can last a few days and to bring all patio furniture indoors before the storm makes landfall. Environment Canada has already issued tropical cyclone and special weather statements for eastern parts of New Brunswick, from the Bay of Fundy to Chaleur Bay around Bathurst and the Acadian Peninsula. The storm is set to pass over Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, but there is a 600 to 700 kilometer window of potential variation. (Tina Simpkin/CBC) In a statement Wednesday, the agency said the storm’s track is centered over Cape Breton Island, but a “range of uncertainty” means areas within a 600- to 700-kilometer radius could be affected. “As we expect the storm to become very large, impacts will be multi-provincial,” Environment Canada said. “The details of the winds, rainfall, waves and storm surge will be described in more and more detail here starting this afternoon.”
The details are not clear
As of Wednesday afternoon, Hurricane Fiona was a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of approximately 210 km/h. The storm hit Turks and Caicos on Tuesday and is expected to affect Bermuda on its way to Atlantic Canada. Estimates CBC meteorologist Tina Simpkin said modeling shows the storm could bring wind speeds of up to 100 km/h in Caraquet, 85 km/h in Moncton and 75 km/h in Saint John and Fredericton by 4 on Saturday afternoon. With the storm still days away from reaching New Brunswick, Maepea said it’s hard to know for sure how strong the winds will be and how much rain will fall. Maepea said a separate weather system moving in from the west around the same time would also add to the rainfall generated by Fiona. Areas along the east and southeast coasts will also have a high chance of storm surge, but the height of that will depend on the tides that coincide with the storm making landfall, he said. “We could have some localized coastal flooding,” he said. “If you have any kind of infrastructure building along the coast, whether it’s a cottage or a house, you should monitor them for potential coastal flooding with our forecast.”
EMO tracking storm
The New Brunswick Emergency Management Agency is monitoring Hurricane Fiona as it moves up the Atlantic Ocean, spokesman Jeffrey Downey said. New Brunswick EMO spokesman Geoffrey Downey said the organization is monitoring Fiona and advising residents to put together a 72-hour emergency kit. (Radio-Canada) Right now, the agency isn’t taking active protective measures, but Downey said it’s important for New Brunswickers to have a 72-hour emergency preparedness kit ready. This should include water and non-perishable food, as well as prescription medications, candles, matches, flashlights, and a battery-operated radio in case the power goes out. “Everybody really needs to start paying attention to this,” Downey said. “The forecast is better here than say in Nova Scotia, but storms change, forecasts aren’t perfect.” Dominique Couture, a spokesman for NB Power, said the company was preparing for the storm, but did not provide details. “Due to some uncertainty with the path of the weather system, our plan continues to evolve as we gain a better understanding of potential impacts and impact areas,” he said in an email.
