Canada Bracing For ‘Historic’ Hit From Hurricane Fiona

Topline

A huge swath of Canada’s Atlantic coastline is under hurricane warnings as Category 4 Hurricane Fiona continues its push northward, with forecasters warning the massive hurricane will be a “historic storm for eastern Canada” after it left islands like Puerto Rico devastated.

Hurricane Fiona barrels past Bermuda on Friday morning.

NOAA

Key Facts

Fiona is about 180 miles west of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center, maintaining an intensity it’s now held for 48 hours.

Forecasters said hurricane conditions are likely in Bermuda for the next several hours before the storm races away on a course toward eastern Nova Scotia.

Hurricane warnings are in effect for much of the Nova Scotia coastline, from Hubbards to Brule, along with the province of Prince Edward Island and the west coast of Newfoundland from Parson’s Pond to Francois.

Fiona is technically not expected to be a hurricane by the time it makes landfall in Nova Scotia on Saturday morning, having transitioned to an extratropical system, but predictions of winds in excess of 100 mph and flooding rainfall of up to 10 inches have triggered hurricane warnings nonetheless.

Crucial Quote

“Similar cyclones of this nature have produced structural damage to buildings,” Canadian government forecasters said in a statement. “Construction sites may be particularly vulnerable. Wind impacts will likely be enhanced by foliage on the trees, potentially causing prolonged and widespread utility outages.”

Key Background

Power remains out to more than 60% of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona battered the island at the beginning of the week. Major damage was also reported in nearby areas like the Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos Islands. The storm passed near Puerto Rico nearly five years to the day after Hurricane Maria wrecked the island, causing damage many residents are still recovering from. President Joe Biden said Thursday that he’s authorized “100%” federal funding to cover the island’s storm response over the next month. At least seven people died as a result of the storm, including four in Puerto Rico.

What To Watch For

Tropical Depression Nine formed over the central Caribbean Sea early Friday morning. The system bears watching for U.S. interests since long-term models suggest it could threaten the Gulf Coast in the coming week or so.

Surprising Fact

No hurricane warnings have been issued for U.S. coastal areas this hurricane season.