Saturday 24 September 2022 12:26 AM Hurricane Fiona makes landfall early Saturday as one of strongest storms EVER ... trends now
Hurricane Fiona is expected to batter Canada's eastern coast early Saturday, and has been upgraded to a Category 4 storm as Canadians stock up on food and barricade their homes in preparation.
The hurricane is expected to touch down in Canada's Nova Scotia, and also effect Prince Edward Island as well as Newfoundland.
It will bring wind speeds of up to 130 mph, relentless rain and a strong likelihood of flooding.
The Canadian Hurricane Center has estimated the storm surges could be as deep as 6-8 feet and coastal waves as high as 40 feet in some areas, as Canadians brace for a storm stronger than any they've seen in 50 years.
Canada's government warns rain could exceed seven inches in areas of Fiona's track and warned that 'road washouts are possible'. They say residents should have enough supplies at home for 72 hours.
Empty shelves are seen in a grocery store as shoppers stock up on food in advance of Hurricane Fiona in Halifax, Canada
A worker places sandbags around the doors of the Nova Scotia Power building before the arrival of the hurricane, which is expected to cause coastal waves as high as 40 feet
Restaurant tables are turned upside down in Halifax as Canadians brace for a storm stronger than any they've seen in 50 years
A Canadian double checks the lines of his sailboat moored in Nova Scotia as officials warn there may be storm surges as deep as eight feet, threatening to cause widespread power outages
A map of Hurricane Fiona at 3:30 p.m. on Friday shows the historic storm closing in on Canadian mainland
'All the ingredients are really there for some high water levels, flooding and potential damage,' said meteorologist Rob Carroll, who added the storm surges will likely be the most damaging part of the storm.
According to the most recent update from the Canadian Hurricane Center at 1 p.m. EST, the storm's center was about 475 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia's most populous city, and was moving northeast.
Chris Fogarty, manager of the Canadian Hurricane Center, told CNN Fiona has the potential to be 'a landmark event for Canada in terms of intensity of a tropical cyclone.'
Extensive power outages may occur in Nova Scotia from the storm as they already have in Puerto Rico, and John Lohr of the Emergency Management Office of Nova Scotia said.
'Impacts are projected to be felt across the province. Every Nova Scotian should be preparing today,' he added.
Utility company Nova Scotia Power created an Emergency Operations Center, which will act as a base of operations for the company to work on restoring power as quickly as possible.
Canadians have been sharing ways to prepare for the effects of the storm including keeping ice in the house to keep food cold in case of a power outage and having extra batteries on hand.
'Every Nova Scotian should be preparing today,' John Lohr of the Emergency Management Office of Nova Scotia said
Pedestrians in Halifax are already feeling the rain on Friday as the eastern coast of Canada is expected to see upwards of 7 inches of rain
A sign in the window of a storefront on the Halifax waterfront is seen ahead of Hurricane Fiona as the storm closes in to make landfall on Saturday
Immediate efforts should be taken to protect belongings. Avoid shorelines, waves are extremely dangerous. Residents in those
