Kalin's Call: Storm summary for record-setting Fiona
Environment Canada and the Canadian Hurricane Centre released their final information statement on Fiona Sunday evening.
The historical track of Hurricane Fiona as it approached and made landfall in the Maritimes.
SUMMARY
Fiona peaked as a category 4 hurricane as it turned northward east of the Bahamas. After colliding with a cold front, Fiona transitioned into a post-tropical storm equivalent to a category 2 hurricane. Fiona then made landfall near Whitehead, Guysborough County, N.S. shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday morning.
The transition to a post-tropical storm is one of physics and structure, not a weakening of the storm. A post-tropical transition is common for hurricanes at northern latitudes. The storm grows in size, becomes asymmetrical, and starts developing a set of weather fronts. It starts to draw energy from temperature differences in the atmosphere instead of warm ocean water. The transition process can actually cause the storm to intensify. This happened with Fiona, with the Canadian Hurricane Centre stating “Fiona re-intensified between Sable Island and the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia.”
A satellite image of Fiona from Saturday. After becoming post-tropical the severe storm resembles a winter time nor’easter.”
RECORD SETTING
The low-pressure reading of 932.7 mb at Hart Island, N.S. is expected to be the lowest recorded in Canadian history, with the previous record 940.2 mb in St. Anthony, N.L. The central pressure of a storm is notable as generally the lower it is the more intense the storm is. To give some context, stormier weather systems in Atlantic Canada generally have central pressures that fall towards and below 990 mb. Some of our most extreme weather events have central pressure that dip below 970 mb. Those include Hurricane Juan at 969 mb, White Juan 959 mb, and now Fiona at 932.7 mb. There are other factors that determine severity of a storm though, including size, duration, and track.
A chart illustrating the change in weather conditions with barometric pressure. Fiona setting a Canadian record for lowest.
STORM TOTALS
Fiona hit with heavy rain, fierce wind, and a destructive storm surge. Both the most rain and highest peak winds were recorded in eastern areas of the Maritimes. The numbers don’t tell the full story though, as they do little to show the tree and structure damage, the coastal flooding and erosion. Erosion appears to be particularly significant on the northern coastline of P.E.I. and the North Shore of Nova Scotia. The community of Port-aux-Basque, N.L. was particularly devastated by storm surge.
Peak wind reports in the Maritimes from Fiona.
Rain total reports in the Maritimes from Fiona.
HURRICANE IAN
Category 1 Hurricane Ian continues to strengthen in the western Caribbean Sea. The storm is forecast to pass by western Cuba as a category 3 hurricane Tuesday morning. Ian is then expected to approach western Florida as a category 3 or 2 hurricane Thursday morning. After that, the storm is projected to be inland in the southeastern U.S. this weekend.
The forecast track for hurricane Ian as it spins in the western Caribbean Sea.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.