Special Update: Inclement Weather Forecast – Hurricane Lee
September 14, 2023
Environment Canada issues statement ahead of Hurricane Lee
The next information statement from Environment Canada will be issued at 3:00 p.m. ADT.
For Hurricane Lee: This is a Saturday-into-Saturday-night event for the strongest impacts with lingering weaker conditions on Sunday.
Approaching category-1 hurricane becoming a strong tropical storm then transitioning to post-tropical low while making landfall anywhere from near Grand Manan Island New Brunswick to Selburne County Nova Scotia Saturday evening.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Grand Manan and Coastal Charlotte County in New Brunswick and Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, and Queens Counties in Nova Scotia.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Saint John County, Fundy National Park, and Moncton and Southeast New Brunswick, as well as Annapolis, Kings, Lunenburg, and Hants Counties, Halifax Metro and Halifax County West, Cumberland County – Minas Shore, and Colchester County – Cobequid Bay in Nova Scotia.
The circulation of Hurricane Lee will be quite broad as it reaches our region so impacts will occur not only near the track but up to 300 km away from it.
NOTE: In addition to Lee, the Maritime provinces may experience bands of training downpours travelling from southwest to northeast throughout the day today and Friday. These bands are notoriously difficult to predict but it is important to understand there is a flooding risk with these bands well before the arrival of Lee. These complex effects are indirectly related to the hurricane. Additional rainfall from Lee itself could exacerbate the risk of flooding.
Wind. Most likely region for worst impacts: western Nova Scotia as well as Grand Manan and Coastal Charlotte County region of New Brunswick. Areas under the tropical storm watch could see sustained winds of 60 km/h with gusts of 90 to 100 km/h possible. Areas under the hurricane watch will likely see the strongest winds, with gusts as high as 120 km/h possible. b.
Rainfall. Most likely region for heaviest rain: the threat zone has shifted eastward and now runs more through central New Brunswick and northward into the Gaspe region and the Lower Quebec North Shore. Also the threat of heavy rains is increasing for western Nova Scotia. Rainfall totals in excess of 100 mm are possible, especially in areas to the left of the track.
Surge/Waves. High waves and elevated water levels (details later) will be widespread due to the large size of the storm – the most impacted areas likely covering much of the Atlantic coast of mainland Nova Scotia and the Fundy coast of New Brunswick. For Atlantic coastal Nova Scotia breaking waves of 4-6 metres (15 to 20 feet) are likely. Wave conditions could also become rough in areas in the southwestern Gulf of St Lawrence / western Northumberland Strait.
Marine weather impacts and warnings summary. Greatest waves and winds expected around the Bay of Fundy, Gulf of Maine and southwest Maritimes marine district. Gale and Storm warnings are in effect for southwestern marine areas beginning late in the day on Friday. Hurricane force winds are likely to impact southwestern waters on Saturday.
Please check Environment Canada’s website for further updates.
Preparing your construction site for severe weather
We’re asking all members to prepare and be diligent to meet all safety precautions during an inclement weather event. Please refer to any special weather alerts or statements issued by Environment Canada for more information.
With the knowledge that construction and tower crane sites in the province come with some additional risk during these events, members are advised to have a documented and practised severe weather plan to help prepare for the unexpected and work to prevent losses.
When your tower crane is left unattended, it must be able to turn freely in the wind and align itself with the direction the wind is blowing, thereby reducing the surface area of the structure exposed to the wind. Signage mounted anywhere on the rotating structure should be removed as it could cause interference with wind balancing. Any rigging, such as slings or chains, should be removed from the hook and the trolley stowed close to the tower with the block in its highest position.
When storms happen, the Safety Branch of the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration often receives complaints related to construction debris. Please place and secure worksite materials and debris appropriately to make sure they do not come into motion with the high winds to ensure the safety of those at or near worksites.
If you have any questions pertaining to construction worksite safety before, during or after a storm, please contact:
Safety Branch
Labour, Skills and Immigration
1-800-952-2687
safetybranch@novascotia.ca
Thank you for your continued diligence in ensuring the health and safety of all Nova Scotians.