Storm Lee flooded roads and downed power lines offshore

Roads, trees and power lines were downed in the coastal area as Post-Tropical Storm Lee crossed the western tip of Nova Scotia and headed toward New Brunswick on Saturday.

Although Lee significantly wiped out some coastal areas, particularly the area around Nova Scotia’s famous Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, it left other areas virtually unscathed.

“I’m feeling a lot better than I thought I would,” said Pam Moot, mayor of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, where meteorologists previously predicted Lee could have the biggest impact. Apart from a few downed trees, the city escaped significant damage as of Saturday afternoon.

“We suffered much less damage than expected,” said M.^me Mood in an interview. I don’t know what happened along the way [de la tempête]. »

It was a similar story in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, where Mayor Brad Henderson said the previous day’s winds had mostly died down as the afternoon progressed.

He said several trees were down in the community and most residents were without power Saturday afternoon, but the storm ultimately left less of a mark than expected.

“Considering we were supposed to be in the eye of the storm earlier in the week, we’re preparing for the worst,” he said. Although it was a significant storm, you could say the damage was a small relief because we knew it could have been much worse. »

Hurricane Lee strengthened into a powerful post-tropical storm on Saturday as it approached two provinces north of the Atlantic Ocean. The US National Hurricane Center said the storm made landfall on Nova Scotia’s Long Island, about 215 kilometers west of Halifax, around 5 p.m. local time.

The storm is moving over the Bay of Fundy and is expected to make landfall again in southern New Brunswick late Saturday.

The storm abates

The storm had slowed significantly from the previous day, moving at about 20 km/h, compared to the 41 km/h reported earlier, Environment Canada said. Its maximum sustained wind speed has dropped to 110 kmph compared to 130 pm on Friday.

Some rain warnings have ended in Nova Scotia as much of the province’s forecast rain has already subsided. But a rain warning remains in effect for much of New Brunswick, with Environment Canada warning that some areas could get as much as 100 millimeters of rain.

Tropical storm warnings were in effect for most of the ocean and parts of Quebec. Grand Manan Island and the coast of Charlotte County, New Brunswick, and most of Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast, extending from Digby County to Halifax County.

Power outages were reported in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick on Saturday morning as people were warned to brace for damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding.

As of 6 p.m. local time, Nova Scotia Power reported more than 146,000 customers were without power. More than 25,000 people were without power in New Brunswick at one point.

Environment Canada meteorologist Jim Prime said winds will strengthen as the lee moves over parts of Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton and northern New Brunswick, but not as strong as those that hit the Nova Scotia coast earlier Saturday. .

“I’m glad the storm is weakening,” said Mr. Prime said. He described the storm as it moves toward the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Sunday and will bring “typical fall storm” conditions to northern Quebec and Newfoundland.

High tide concerns

On social media, people shared photos of flooded roads near the town of Peggy’s Cove, while others shared links to a live webcam from Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse that captured large waves crashing onto the beach.

Videos from the town of Mahon Bay showed the sea overflowing the shoreline, inundating lawns and nearly submerging docks.

Pam Lovelace, a Halifax city councilor for an area that includes the famous Becky’s Cove Lighthouse, listed the damage the storm had already caused in the first half of the day. Some roads were under water, others were blocked by fallen trees, and several boats in St. Margaret’s Bay harbor were flooded.

She was still worried about what would happen when the high tide returned on Saturday night. Anxiety was high and residents of his district were worried, especially as they had already dealt with devastating wildfires and devastating floods earlier this year.

“People are fed up…it’s in a very short time,” Ms.^me Lovelace. From a mental health perspective, we ask people to check on their neighbors. »

In downtown Halifax, Mayor Mike Savage was concerned about high tides. The rain has stopped, but wind gusts of 100 km/h are possible in the evening, he noted during the afternoon storm briefing.

“Now is no time to watch the waves or drive unnecessarily on the roads,” Mr Savage said.

At Cranberry Head, north of Yarmouth, Tony Post and his wife Michelle breathed a sigh of relief. The storm did not cause the devastation many feared. They watched the lee roar Saturday from their newly built home, which sits atop a 17-meter cliff facing the sea to the south.

Post, who traveled there with his wife from Ontario last year, said, “Thursday’s forecast, we were a little worried about what we might experience. “Since then the wind conditions have gotten a little worse. It’s very noisy, but there’s no damage. »

Mr Post said the big waves were spectacular to watch, especially when the seals dived between the crashing waves.

“I did a walk-through and everything is where it should be,” he said. The worst is behind us. »

The Canadian Hurricane Center (ECCC) is asking concerned citizens to prepare and monitor for updates on the storm’s track.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened a task force Friday to discuss the hurricane’s potential effects on parts of Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec.

The committee, made up of ministers and senior government officials, meets only to discuss events with significant impacts on Canada, such as the recent ports strike in British Columbia and wildfires in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

With information from Sarah Smellie and Keith Doucet

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