Hurricane Fiona's impacts on Atlantic Canada
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  • Writer's pictureKyle Sooley-Brookings

Hurricane Fiona's impacts on Atlantic Canada


Hurricane Fiona will have a profound impact on Atlantic Canada with impacts being felt as early as today.


Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued several alerts including hurricane and tropical storm warnings, along with rainfall, wind, and storm surge warnings. A complete list of warnings is available here.


Fiona has maximum sustained winds of 205 km/h with higher gusts. Fiona is currently a category 3 hurricane and could make landfall in Cape Breton or around the Canso area as a category two hurricane on Saturday morning. The storm is expected to weaken today.


Fiona is forecast to be a large and powerful post-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds when it moves through Atlantic Canada.

Significant rainfall is expected. The heaviest rain will fall over southwestern Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island, most of mainland Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. In these areas over 100 mm of rain is expected. Flooding is likely.


Winds will also be strong in these areas. Gusts to 160 km/h is possible on Prince Edward Island, up to 130 km/h on Cape Breton Island, and 130 km/h in southwestern Newfoundland.


Tonight and Saturday waves of 15 metres are possible along the south coast of Newfoundland from Port aux Basques to Connaigre and along the northern and eastern shores of Cape Breton Island. Storm surge along with these wave heights will be destructive along parts of the coast.


Waves of 5 to 7 metres are possible along the shores of eastern Nova Scotia.


Travel disruptions

  • Marine Atlantic has cancelled all crossings from tonight to Sunday morning and warns that crossings on Sunday evening could also be impacted.

  • MV Fundy Rose service between Saint John, NB and Digby, NS is cancelled for Saturday.

  • Northumberland Ferries has cancelled the 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm sailings from Wood Islands, PE, and the 5:15 pm and 6:30 pm sailings from Caribou, NS today. All sailings of MV Confederation and MV Saaremaa 1 are cancelled for Saturday.

  • The Confederation Bridge could be closed this evening from 9:00 pm until Sunday at 2:00 am.

  • Air Canada flights to Charlottetown, Deer Lake, Fredericton, Gander, Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, St. John's, Sydney, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Bathurst, and Bermuda could be impacted.

  • PAL Airlines has issued a weather advisory for St. Anthony and Blanc-Sablon.

Residents should be prepared for significant travel disruptions, prolonged power outages, flooding, and wind damage. You should have an emergency kit ready.


You should secure loose objects outside your home, clean up any debris, and make sure the storm drains near your home are clear. Time is running out to complete these tasks.


You can follow us on Facebook, our regional Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates. You can also download our free app on the Google Play Store and subscribe to us on YouTube.


Emergency Numbers:

  • Police, Fire, Ambulance 911

  • Newfoundland Power Outage Line 1-800-474-5711

  • NL Hydro Outage Line 1-888-737-1296

  • Maritime Electric Outage Line 1-800-670-1012

  • Nova Scotia Power Outage Line 1-877-428-6004

  • NB Power Outage Line 1-800-663-6272

911 may not be available in all areas.

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