People across Atlantic Canada were stocking up on last-minute essentials and storm-proofing their properties Friday ahead of the arrival of Fiona, which forecasters say will hit the region as a “very strong” post-tropical storm. The storm, described as “historic” in size by forecasters, is expected to make landfall early Saturday morning, bringing hurricane-force winds and more than 100 millimeters of rain to much of the region and eastern Quebec. Closer to Fiona’s path, more than 200mm of rain is expected to fall — potentially washing out some roads. Bob Robichaud, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said Fiona is forming into a larger storm system than Hurricane Juan, which caused widespread damage in the Halifax area in 2003. He said it is about the same size as 2019’s Tropical Storm Dorian. “But it’s stronger than Dorian was,” he told reporters during a briefing. “It’s sure to be a historic, extreme event for Eastern Canada.” He said wind speeds could reach up to 145 km/h with gusts even higher in some areas. Robichaud said the storm is moving north and is expected to reach Nova Scotia waters late Friday night before passing Cape Breton early Saturday. Fiona is expected to reach the Lower North Shore of Quebec and southeastern Labrador early Sunday. Dave Buis, vice president of the Northern Yacht Club in North Sydney, NS, said he was concerned about the storm, which is expected to hit Cape Breton Island. “Oh sure, I think that’s going to be bad,” Buis said in a telephone interview. “Hopefully it will slow down when the cooler water hits, but it doesn’t sound like it will.” He said he took his seven-meter sailboat out of the water on Thursday. In the eastern part of the island, in the small Acadian community of Petit-de-Grat, NS, fishermen were also busy tying their boats or trying to lash them tightly to the wharf. Lobster fisherman Kyle Boudreau said extensive storm damage is hard for a coastal community to absorb. “This is our livelihood. Our boats get knocked over, our traps get smashed. It’s stuff you don’t need to start your season next year,” he said. Meanwhile, stores in Halifax ran out of propane gas cylinders used for camping stoves. The shelves in the camping section of a local Canadian Tire store that usually carried the little green containers were completely bare. But Halifax resident and plumber Chad Shiers advised that those looking for a small fuel tank could use plumbing propane. “There are more ways to get what you need,” he said Friday after buying a blue propane torch. “If I have a fire I can eat. As long as they have what I need, I won’t panic.” Robichaud warned people across the region not to be complacent just because they are not near the center of the storm’s track. “The effects will be felt well beyond where the center of the storm is,” he said. Strong winds and rainfall are expected to have a “major impact” on eastern Prince Edward Island, eastern Nova Scotia, southern and eastern New Brunswick, western Newfoundland, eastern Quebec and southeastern Labrador. Coastal areas of Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia are expected to experience strong surf, with waves expected to reach more than 10 meters off Nova Scotia and more than 12 meters in the eastern parts of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In addition to significant storm surge, potential for coastal and inland flooding, and “always” low pressure across the region, the storm is expected to cause widespread power outages due to trees and utility poles downed by strong winds. A spokeswoman for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality said there were plans to open the Center 200 sports center in Sydney as an evacuation center on Friday night. Christina Lamey said the space is to be used by residents who feel they won’t be safe through the storm, particularly those living on the south coast of the area. Halifax was also set to open four evacuation centers Friday night. In PEI, Public Safety Minister Darlene Compton warned people who might be curious to stay away from coastal areas, saying it wasn’t worth watching the storm. “My message is simple — don’t do it,” Compton said during a briefing. “Don’t go near the water, don’t put yourself and others in danger.” An emergency alert from the province warned residents of severe flooding expected along the northern coastline. In downtown Charlottetown, the usually bustling Confederation Landing was unusually quiet. Restaurant owners Lisa and Robert Gale decided to keep Lobster on the Wharf open Friday afternoon to welcome a tour bus expected at 5 p.m. Robert Gale said the worst storm they faced was Dorian. “We’d be lying if we said we weren’t worried about Fiona,” added his wife Lisa. Red chairs that usually sat on the deck were stacked in their office along with tables and they hoped the storms weren’t high enough to flood the restaurant. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey issued a statement aimed at reassuring residents of his province Friday, saying a provincial emergency operations center had been activated while Department of Transportation crews were already checking culverts and removing debris. “Stay home if possible, as this will not only help keep you and your family safe, but you will avoid putting emergency responders at risk,” Furey said. In Quebec on Friday, Premier Francois Legault said authorities were closely monitoring Fiona, which is on track to hit Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Gaspe and the province’s Lower North Shore. “I want to say to people in these areas, be careful, there is a significant risk, prepare for the worst and hopefully it will go well,” Legault said in Laval. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on September 23, 2022. — With files from Michael Tutton in Petit-de-Grat, NS, Lyndsay Armstrong in Halifax, Hina Alam in Charlottetown and Sidhartha Banerjee in Montreal
