Remembering Hurricane Juan: The Storm That Shook Nova Scotia

By Bcameron3 at English Wikipedia - Own work by the original uploader, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31672264

More than two decades later, Hurricane Juan remains one of the most powerful and destructive storms to ever strike Nova Scotia. Making landfall near Halifax just after midnight on September 29, 2003, the Category 2 hurricane brought winds of more than 150 km/h, leaving a trail of destruction.

The storm toppled thousands of trees, tore roofs from homes and knocked out power to more than 300,000 customers across the province. Entire streets were left impassable, blocked by fallen trees and downed power lines. The devastation to Halifax’s Point Pleasant Park was especially severe, with more than three-quarters of its trees destroyed in just a few hours.

Crews worked around the clock for weeks to restore electricity and clear debris.

Tragically, the storm claimed eight lives in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Juan also had an impact on the province’s fishing and shipping industries. Storm surge waves more than a metre above normal levels were observed, sinking boats and damaging wharves. In Halifax Harbour, several vessels broke free of their moorings.