Hurricane Fiona becomes a category 4 storm hitting Bermuda and is plunging towards Atlantic Canada.
Fiona wreaked havoc across the Caribbean earlier this week as a category 3 storm. It is now a category 4 storm as it powered through Bermuda on Friday. That said, it is expected to be a force heading straight for Atlantic Canada this weekend.
Fiona is expected to bring heavy rainfalls with tremendous winds anywhere from 85 miles per hour to 135 miles per hour. Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec are bracing for this historical tropical storm as it pounds directly for the northern eastern provinces. This storm is gaining strength, so far with no signs of depreciating just yet.
Canadians living across the Atlantic have been warned to prepare as best they can for Hurricane Fiona. She could be one of the most dangerous storms to hit the eastern coast as the forecast is, she will bring more than 6 inches of rain and hurricane-force cyclone winds.
Atlantic Canada -Canadians Prepare For Hurricane Fiona
Fiona is expected to make landfall on Saturday across the province of Nova Scotia.
The Atlantic is no stranger to tropical storms like the last devastating one, Hurricane Dorian which torpedoed through the Atlantic provinces back in 2019.
However, over the years in the Atlantic, the active-cycle storms weaken as they touch down inland. Not so for the predictions regarding Fiona’s tenacity. According to meteorologists, the storm will maintain it’s strength this weekend. It is being called the ‘big’ one.
The Atlantic provinces are also referred to as the Maritimes (maritimes do not include Newfoundland & Labrador). Under severe weather watch are, Nova Scotia (NS), NewFoundland (NFLD) & Labrador, New Brunswick (NB), and Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.)
The Accuweather network has reported that this latest storm is expected to be one of the worst tropical storms on record to hit the Atlantic. All of this to say as Canadian residents prepare to ride out the pounding of this storm as it passes through.
Storm watchers continue to track Fiona after her recent destruction across the Caribbean. Hurricane Fiona blasted across the Caribbean this week as a category 3 storm and did serious damage. Residents from the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico are still reeling from the catastrophic storm this week which destroyed many homes, and knocked out power for most of the residents.
Image: Ricardo Rojas/Reuters Hurricane Fiona Aftermath, Puerto Rico, Sept. 19th, 2022
Puerto Rico is a country that is in the ‘eye of most if not all of the tropical storms’ due to its location and infrastructure.
Fiona left over 1 million people across Puerto Rico without power and electricity on Tuesday. Puerto Rico was the hardest hit. Officials have confirmed 8 people have died, and most of the island, around 80 percent of the country is still under water.
Playa Salinas is flooded after the passing of Hurricane Fiona in Salinas, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 19, 2022.
However, even though less lives were lost many say Fiona is worse than Maria.
Hurricane Fiona is said to be worse than Hurricane Maria, which caused thousands of deaths and destroyed the power grid 5 years ago, after striking Puerto Rico and other islands.
Puerto Rico – Hurricane Maria 2017 Photo Image: Ricardo Arduengo
While nothing is more devastating than lives lost, Fiona is leaving a wake of severe flooding, landslides and the destruction of people’s homes. Rebuilding houses and infrastructures during the aftermath, can take a toll and cause many people to spiral into turmoil and depression.
The power grid is the main worry for residents. With so many hurricanes ripping through Puerto Rico over the years causing storm surges, and knocking out roads and bridges – the United States government is ready to step in to assist the country.
Reports from Washington say, United States President Joe Biden will distribute an Emergency Declaration – emergency funds to help the residents of Puerto Rico with rebuilding and restoring electricity. Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island described as a commonwealth or territory under the jurisdiction of the United States since 1898.
US residents please go to the FEMA website to apply for emergency assistance.[update as of October 2022]
Note: The NHC (National Hurricane Centre) is keeping a close eye on the other storms coming up behind Fiona – NHC is issuing advisories for the Atlantic on Hurricane Fiona, TS (Tropical Storm) Gaston, TD (Tropical Depression) Nine may turn into Hurricane Ian on Monday, Sept 26th and TS (Tropical Storm) Hermine. NHC issuing advisories for the Eastern Pacific on TS Newton.
Published by Holr Magazine