NEW GLASGOW – No matter where you live in Nova Scotia, Hurricane Earl’s presence will be felt today.
Chris Fogarty of the Canadian Hurricane Centre says it is a large storm that can’t be ignored by any parts of the province.
“Our primary concern is the wind,” he said. “The berth of the wind is quite large – along with the pre-existing warm waters and tropical air mass, it will be able to maintain a high wind speed.”
Wind gusts over Pictou County could reach as high as 100 km/h with sustained gales at 63 km or more. Rainfall amounts could be between 40 and 70 millimetres which is why Environment Canada has issued tropical storm, wind and rainfall warnings for the area.
He said Nova Scotia residents should expect flooding conditions since some areas will receive about an inch of rain an hour when Earl passes over the province.
“People can expect trees to be damaged, branches and limbs down,” Fogarty said. “Utility lines can also be down in this situation.”
The program supervisor at the Canadian Hurricane Centre said the Atlantic Coast will bear the brunt of the storm since it was expected to make landfall in Digby early this morning and move through the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Ramona Jennex, Nova Scotia minister responsible for Emergency Management, said all of Atlantic Canada should be prepared for Earl.
“Many areas of Nova Scotia will be affected,” she said. “People need to reconsider their weekend plans across the province. We are asking all Nova Scotians who have made plans to stay put this weekend. Everyone should have an emergency kit and be able to be self-sufficient for 72 hours. Make sure you secure things properly so that nothing can be a projectile in high winds.”
