Living on the Atlantic coast means salt air and ocean views, but it also comes with unpredictable, and sometimes damaging, weather events. As the climate warms, hurricanes become more frequent and destructive. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking in September. Hurricane season is predicted to be above normal this year. This is your hurricane survival guide – written by someone who has witnessed many Nova Scotia hurricanes (and lost a home to one).
What is a hurricane?
A hurricane is a type of storm called a tropical cyclone. Tropical cyclones develop over the Atlantic Ocean, losing and gaining intensity as they travel. Hurricanes are determined based on their maximum sustained winds, then sorted into a category from one to five. The higher the sustained winds, the higher the category.
To be a hurricane, the storm must have maximum sustained winds of 119 km/h or greater. Storms can be considered post-tropical, extratropical, subtropical, or tropical depending on their characteristics. Though a “tropical storm” sounds better than a “hurricane”, some of the most damaging storms to hit Nova Scotia in recent years were not considered hurricanes at the time of landfall. Extremely high wind gusts and intense rainfall can happen regardless of the storm’s title.
Atlantic Canada is typically hit by at least one significant tropical storm per year. Here are the most severe tropical storms to hit Nova Scotia in the last 25 years:
Hurricane Juan (2003)
Hurricane Juan made landfall in Halifax overnight on September 29, 2003, as a category 2 hurricane. It brought maximum sustained winds of 157 km/h, uprooting approximately 100 million trees. Hurricane Juan killed two people in Nova Scotia directly, and four indirectly. It is unusual for a storm to keep its hurricane status when travelling in the Northern Atlantic, as our cool waters typically lower the storm’s intensity. However, warming water has increased our risk for storms like Juan to recur.
Hurricane Dorian (2019)
Hurricane Dorian was the most damaging storm to hit the Maritimes before Hurricane Fiona. Dorian transitioned from a category 2 hurricane to a post-tropical storm when it hit Nova Scotia, causing the intense winds to spread across a wider region. Dorian made landfall near Sambro in the Halifax Regional Municipality on September 7, 2019. Hurricane Dorian collapsed a crane in downtown Halifax. You may notice the building called “The Crane” on South Park St – that is where the name comes from. The storm damaged docks, uprooted trees, and ripped off roofs, including my own. Hurricane Dorian left me without a home for almost three months.
Hurricane Fiona (2022)
Hurricane Fiona is the costliest and most damaging tropical cyclone to hit Canada on record. Fiona landed in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, on September 24, 2022. Fiona’s sustained winds at landfall were up to 169 km/h, the strength of a category 2 hurricane. Wave heights throughout the Atlantic regions reached 17 metres, with a peak wave of 30 metres. Nearly half the province was without power, many for over a week. Hurricane Fiona killed three people and is estimated to have caused $800 million in insured damages.
How can you prepare for a hurricane, and what can you expect?
With the changing climate, storms have been gaining intensity quickly and unpredictably. Stay indoors. I've seen people struck by flying debris like signs and garbage cans in these storms. If you are renting, ask your landlord about precautions you should be taking specific to your building. Ask whether the building has experienced flooding, whether trees or debris nearby may be an issue during the storm, and whether power outages are common. It is also important to know whether you have tenant insurance and what exactly it covers. When I lost my roof, I paid a $1000 deductible to replace my belongings and another $1000 deductible for temporary housing. Temporary housing was covered up to a certain dollar amount, and not all damaged belongings were eligible for replacement.
If the storm is severe enough to warrant government aid, there will be financial assistance for those impacted. Most of these opportunities are for homeowners and the selection process for who qualifies is not transparent. Many people are denied financial assistance, and some people who are approved may wait months to receive their funds.
Preparation for a Tropical Storm
In preparation for a tropical storm, you should have 72-hours worth of shelf-stable food ready. Storm chips are a hurricane staple. Avoid purchasing a large stock of perishable foods before the storm. If the power is out long enough, you may end up throwing your food in the trash. Have some clothes and any medicine you may need set aside in case you need to evacuate.
You may only have a few minutes to gather your things. Keep your devices plugged in during the storm, so they will be fully charged if the power goes out. It is also useful to have a portable charger that is fully charged as well. I like to have bottled water on hand, but this is not something to worry about as much when living in the city. Candles and flashlights, along with extra batteries, are useful in the event of a power outage. There have been housefires – some deadly – from candles during power outages, so it is important to be careful.
If this is your first hurricane season in the Atlantic, don’t be scared! Just stay aware and be prepared.
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