Canada – 1 Killed in Newfoundland as Storm Surge From Hurricane Fiona Sweeps Homes Into the Ocean

by in Americas, News

At least one person has died and dozens have been displaced in Newfoundland, Canada, after huge waves and storm surge brought by Hurricane Fiona swept homes into the ocean.

Environment Canada said Storm Fiona generated damaging winds, torrential rainfall, large waves and destructive storm surge along Canada’s Atlantic coast from 23 September 2022.

Fiona then made landfall as a category-2 hurricane strength (maximum sustained wind speeds of 165 km/h) post-tropical cyclone near Whitehead in the province of Nova Scotia, early 24 September 2022.

Impacts of the storm were reported across the provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec. Thousands of households were left without power.

Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, was the worst affected, with reports of around 10 to 12 buildings and homes swept into the sea by storm surge and high waves. Around 200 residents of the town have been displaced and one person reported missing.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they received a report that a woman was possibly washed out to sea from her home on 24 September. “The woman was last seen inside the residence just moments before a wave struck the home, tearing away a portion of the basement. She has not been seen since. Due to extreme weather conditions yesterday, a search was not able to be safely conducted.”

On 25 September police confirmed the body of the missing woman had been found.

Environment Canada reported some waves reached  as high as 16 metres over eastern sections of the Gulf of St Lawrence. Several locations saw more than 100 mm of rain and wind gusts of more than 170 km/h.

Storm surge and high waves combined to increase costal water levels to record highs on 24 September in Escuminac, New Brunswick (2.82 metres above chart datum, with a previous record 2.47), and at Channel-Port aux Basques (2.75 metres with a previous record 2.71).

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