From snow to sizzle: Two Maritime events land on most impactful weather list of 2024

Kat MacIsaac, a nurse at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital's dialysis unit, shovels out her driveway in Sydney, N.S. on Wednesday Feb. 14, 2024. (Source: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Steve Wadden)

The Maritimes landed two spots in Environment Canada’s 10 most impactful weather stories of 2024 list.

The great snowstorm of February 2024

Coming in at number eight was the snowstorm of Feb. 2 to Feb. 5. The slow-moving storm is considered the worst to hit parts of the Maritimes since White Juan in February 2004.

The article lists totals of 100 centimetres of snow in downtown Sydney with a larger area of eastern Nova Scotia and eastern Prince Edward Island receiving 40-to-65 cm of snow. While unofficial, I also saw measurements and reports of totals approaching 100 cm from Pictou and Antigonish Counties in Nova Scotia. Even Halifax International Airport reported a total of 80 cm over the duration of the multi-day storm.

Roads were made impassible. Residents and businesses were snowed in for several days. The weight of the snow risked collapsing the roofs on some structures and contributed to a fatal propane tank explosion.

Early summer heat

While the summer of 2024 finished generally hot and dry by seasonal standards in the Maritimes, it was record breaking heat in June that landed the region a second spot on the list.

The occurrence of a “heat dome” sent temperatures soaring mid-June in the Maritimes. All-time record highs were recorded at a number of sites on June 19 and 20, including Miscou Island, N.B., at 34.1 C, Miramichi, N.B., at 37.2 C, Saint John, N.B., at 34.5 C, and Ingonish, N.S., at 34.5 C.

While not an all-time record, Halifax International Airport set a record for the month of June reaching 34.3 C.

Many other locations in the region set new daily high temperature records for a June 19 and 20.

Humidex values, or what it feels like as a combination of heat and humidity, reach well into the 40s for much of the region.

Jasper wildfire number one

For the second year in a row, a wildfire topped the list.

The Jasper National Park wildfire was number one. While not the only location in the country to experience extensive wildfires, it made international news as the fire triggered evacuations and devastated the iconic park. According to the article the wildfire destroyed 358 of 1,113 structures that comprise the town of Jasper. A wildland firefighter also lost their life battling the blaze.

Wildfires in the Maritimes made the top of the list in 2023. Thankfully the 2024 wildfire season passed without the same severity despite prolonged periods of hot and dry weather.

The rest of the list contains more events related to heat, flood, hail, and hurricanes.