Hurricane Fiona is on track to storm through Atlantic Canada and Quebec as forecasters are referring to it as a historic event with winds likely to top those of post-tropical storm Dorian in 2019.

Heading northward, Fiona was expected to reach Nova Scotia waters by tonight before passing through the eastern mainland part of the province, Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island tomorrow, and on to Quebec’s Lower North Shore and southeastern Labrador early Sunday.

Bob Robichaud, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, says projections have shown “all-time” low pressure across the region that will bring storm surges, and rainfalls of between 100 and 200 millimetres of rain.

He says it remains to be seen if the wind gusts will set records, but added the current expectation was that gusts would be stronger in some areas than the gusts of 150 kilometres per hour felt during Dorian when it made landfall.

 

 

Pictou County is under a Hurricane Warning, Storm Surge Warning, Wind Warning and Rainfall Warning.

Strong category-1 hurricane force winds of 100 gusting to 140 km/h at exposed locations except 140 gusting to 160 km/h at the coast with a surge of 1.8 to 2.4 metres and dangerous waves from 11 to 15 meters from Hurricane Fiona are expected.

The Hurricane Warning represents the region within the core of Hurricane / Severe Post-Tropical Fiona. Winds will likely gust to near category-two hurricane threshold, which is 160 km/h in some areas.

Those dangerous winds are expected from tonight until Saturday afternoon.

Extremely heavy rain is expected tonight through Saturday afternoon giving 100 to 200 mm.

In fact some areas could possibly reach 250 mm.

 

 

Northumberland Ferries Limited is closely monitoring the marine weather forecast and conditions this weekend as Hurricane Fiona tracks offshore up the Atlantic coast.

As a result, it’s advising that:

• MV Confederation and MV Saaremaa 1 service between Wood Islands and Caribou will be disrupted at times today and all Saturday sailings are cancelled.

For today, Northumberland Ferries has cancelled the 5:00pm and 7:00pm sailings from Wood Islands, and the 5:15pm and 6:30pm sailings from Caribou.

 

 

Fuel prices went up overnight in Nova Scotia.  Gas prices went up 0.9 cents per litre to 154.6 cents per litre locally.

Diesel prices increased by 6.2 cents per litre to 180.5 cents per litre in the local area.

 

 

The spouse of the gunman who killed 22 Nova Scotians in the 2020 mass shooting is calling for improved police training and handling of domestic violence.

Jessica Zita, the lawyer for Lisa Banfield, told the federal-provincial inquiry into the killings on Thursday that police failed to protect Nova Scotians by not following up on previous accusations of violence against the gunman.

Zita noted that some of these accusations date back many years.

The lawyer says police should update protocol and training so they are better equipped to respond to domestic violence.

 

 

Nova Scotia Health is reporting that 171 staff are off work due to COVID-19.

These staff members have either tested positive, have been exposed to the virus through a member of their household, or they are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test.

The health authority says there are 36 Nova Scotians hospitalized due to COVID-19 and 125 people in hospital for other reasons that have tested positive for the virus.

There are 65 people who contracted COVID-19 after being admitted into hospital.

 

 

Nova Scotia’s Department of Justice says the deadline for the Desmond Fatality Inquiry report has been extended to allow the presiding judge to complete his work.

The inquiry that began in May 2019 is tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding war veteran Lionel Desmond’s killing of his mother, wife, daughter and himself in 2017.

The inquiry was expected to release a final report of its finding on September 30th.

With this extension, Judge Warren Zimmer has until December 31st to produce the report.

 

 

The Maritime Junior Hockey League is postponing three games today and all games on Saturday due to Hurricane Fiona.

The affected games include :

Friday, September 23rd – Pictou County at Yarmouth

An announcement will be made when the game is rescheduled.