Hurricane Fiona is barreling toward the Turks and Caicos Islands this morning as a Category 3 storm. Forecasters expect the storm to be “large and potent” by the time it reaches Atlantic Canada this weekend.
The track is uncertain but it could make landfall in eastern Nova Scotia or southern Newfoundland.
Environment Canada is expecting the storm to become quite large, and as such, the impacts could be far-reaching.
The entire island of Newfoundland may be impacted as well as parts of Labrador. The entire province of PEI and portions of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Quebec are also expected to feel Fiona’s effects.
Rodney Barney, Meteorologist with Environment Canada says virtually the entire province will see some effect from the storm but it’s unlikely that Fiona will dump the same volume of water as did Earl a couple of weekends ago when over 200 mm of rain fell on parts of the Avalon Peninsula including metro.
Right now it’s looking like the western part of the island will see the more severe conditions, particularly with the high winds and elevated water levels.
Fiona has now become the first major hurricane of the season. Interests in eastern Canada should pay close attention to the progress of this storm over the next few days as impacts are becoming more likely. The @ECCC_CHC has issued a preliminary bulletin: https://t.co/7h47DUlmzp pic.twitter.com/PZ1r3kSuJ2
— ECCC Canadian Hurricane Centre (@ECCC_CHC) September 20, 2022
A town on the southern Avalon split apart when Hurricane Larry barreled through last year is concerned that the seawall still hasn’t been repaired.
Peter’s River and St. Stephen’s were separated from St. Vincent’s after Larry crashed through the breakwater at St. Vincent’s Beach and washed out a section of road. It also left the area without ambulance service as it is based in Trepassey but could get no farther than St. Vincent’s.
Mayor Verna Hayward says what’s left of the breakwater looks like matchsticks. She says they have been told by the provincial government that it’s cheaper to replace pavement than it is a breakwater, but the town still feels that the barrier between the ocean and the highway should be restored.
(File photo.)
Meanwhile, St. John’s City Council is warning residents to prepare for inclement weather this weekend.
With Hurricane Fiona on track to make possible landfall on the island this weekend, the city is reminding residents to be prepared for extreme weather conditions.
Councillor Maggie Burton says it’s important to make sure items on properties are secured and residents have the essentials on hand if needed.
She says it’s important to be prepared for events such as power outages and she asks residents to ensure they have supplies such as batteries on hand.
Fiona heavily damaged the power grid in Puerto Rico on the weekend.
