WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
RA IV/HC-XXXI/Doc. 4.2(2)
(16.II.2009)
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RA IV HURRICANE COMMITTEE
THIRTY-FIRST SESSION
ITEM 4.2
NASSAU, BAHAMAS
20 TO 24 APRIL 2009
Original: ENGLISH
REVIEW OF THE PAST HURRICANE SEASON
REPORTS OF HURRICANES, TROPICAL STORMS, TROPICAL
DISTURBANCES AND RELATED FLOODING DURING 2008
(Submitted by Canada)
INTRODUCTION
Six tropical cyclones entered the Canadian Hurricane Centre (CHC) Response Zone (RZ)
in 2008.
In the west Post-tropical Storm Ike entered Ontario while in the east Tropical Storm Bertha
passed south of the Grand Banks while Tropical Storm Laura clipped the outer banks. The
Maritimes were hit hard with flooding rainfalls from Post-tropical Storms Cristobal and Hanna while
Nova Scotia bore the brunt of Kyle: Canada’s first Landfalling hurricane since Juan in 2003.
Hurricane and tropical storm watches or warnings were issued with Hurricane Kyle for Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick. The CHC issued a total of 90 information statements on six separate tropical
systems.
BULLETIN SUMMARIES
2008
Hurricane Information Statements
90
(WOCN3X/7X CWHX)
Number of Storms Represented
6
by these Bulletins
1.
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
48
93
87
104
113
68
110
4
5
7
8
8
8
6
Cristobal
Storm
On July 18, Atlantic Tropical Depression # 3 formed off the South Carolina coast. Within 24 hours
it strengthened to become Tropical Storm Cristobal, following which it tracked northeast. By July
22 Cristobal entered southwestern Maritime waters as a strong but small gale system, with winds
of over 90 km/h. The storm centre remained south of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, exiting
southeastern Newfoundland waters just after midnight on the morning of July 24.
RA IV/HC-XXXI/Doc. 4.2(2), p. 2
Conditions
While the centre of Cristobal was still more than a day away from the Maritimes rainfall moved out
well ahead of it to become enhanced by a stalled frontal system over Nova Scotia. The result was
intense rainfalls with the highest accumulations confined to the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. Even
within the Halifax Regional Municipality there was a great range in the rainfall: from as low as 16
mm inland at Stanfield International Airport, to as high as 145 mm at the coast at Sambro. Strong
winds remained offshore and were confined to a tight core around the storm with only one report
of gales coming from the East Scotian Slope NOMAD buoy which reported a peak wind 93 km/h.
Following that report the buoy stopped reporting, implying that it may have sustained damage from
the storm.
Top Rainfall Reports from Nova Scotia
Baccaro Point – 165 mm
Cape Sable Island – 153 mm
Sambro – 145 mm
Spanish Ship Bay – 130 mm
Western Head – 95 mm
Impacts
There were widespread public and media reports of road washouts and flooded basements from
along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. The Canadian Hurricane Centre also provided weather
information to the Canadian Coast Guard in a successful rescue operation when a small yacht
capsized near the track of the storm.
Warnings & Information Statements
Environment Canada’s Storm Prediction Centre in Atlantic region issued gale and storm warnings
for southern offshore waters more than a day in advance of the storm’s passage. Warnings of
heavy rain in Nova Scotia were issued more than 24 hours in advance and possible 100+ mm
rainfalls were flagged more than 12 hours in advance. The CHC issued 25 information statements.
Coordination and Communication Effort
Environment Canada provided timely weather warnings to Canadians and also support to
emergency planners before the event. More than 40 media interviews were conducted by weather
centre staff in association with this event. Continual consultations by the Canadian Hurricane
Centre during July 20-22 included: the US National Hurricane Center; the Atlantic Storm Prediction
Centre; the Newfoundland and Labrador Weather Office; and Environment Canada’s Client
Services and Warning Preparedness Meteorologists in Nova Scotia. Direct consultation and
coordination also included the Emergency Measures Organization in Nova Scotia.
2.
Hanna
Storm
Tropical Storm Hanna was born on August 28, reached the southern Bahamas on September 1 as
a marginal hurricane, and then weakened slightly but remained a strong tropical storm until it
made landfall in the Carolinas September 6. The storm accelerated rapidly up the eastern U.S.
seaboard as it transitioned to a post-tropical storm and moved into the western Maritimes by noon
ADT on Sunday September 7. Within 24 hours the storm centre was east of Newfoundland, but
not before tracking along the Fundy coast of Nova Scotia, through eastern Prince Edward Island,
northern Cape Breton, and southern Newfoundland.
RA IV/HC-XXXI/Doc. 4.2(2), p. 3
Conditions
Post-tropical Storm Hanna remained at gale strength throughout its track across Atlantic Canada,
bringing peak winds near 80 km/h to both the marine district and numerous inland locations in
Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. A peak wind of 87 km/h was reported at Baccaro Point, NS). All
four Atlantic provinces reported periods of intense rainfalls (10-30 mm in one hour) as well as
significant rainfall accumulations in excess of 50 mm. The Fundy coasts of New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia were hardest hit with more than 100 mm while most of Prince Edward Island received
60-90 mm.
Peak Provincial Wind Gusts (km/h)
Baccaro Point, NS – 87
Cape Race, NL – 74
Harrington, PEI – 61
Saint John Airport, NB – 56
Peak Provincial Rainfalls (mm)
Saint John, NB – 146
Port aux Basques, NL – 130 (unofficial)
Parrsboro, NS – 104
Harrington, PEI – 96
Burgeo, NL – 70
Impacts
Widespread reports of road washouts and flooded basements … numbering in the hundreds …
came from the Fundy coasts of New Brunswick and throughout portions of Nova Scotia and Prince
Edward Island. The city of Saint John, New Brunswick, was hardest hit with dozens of roads being
closed and a washout closed part of the Southern New Brunswick Railway. Scattered power
outages were also reported in Nova Scotia.
Warnings & Information Statements
Environment Canada’s Storm Prediction Centres issued warnings of gales for Maritime waters
more than 24 hours in advance of their arrival and detailed rainfall warnings 18-24 hours before
the arrival of the rain. Forecasts of the possibility of 100 mm rainfalls were issued 2 days in
advance by the Canadian Hurricane Centre. The CHC issued 23 information statements.
Coordination and Communication Effort
During Hanna’s approach and passage, September 2-8, Atlantic Warning Preparedness
Meteorologists and Canadian Hurricane Centre forecasters conducted 79 media interviews,
worked closely with regional Emergency Management Organizations, Public Safety Canada, the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Coast Guard, and public utility companies.
3.
Ike
Storm
After wreaking destruction in Haiti and Cuba, large Category 2 Hurricane Ike made landfall in the
early morning hours of Saturday September 13 at Galveston Texas. 72 hours later the remnant
hurricane exited into the Atlantic after weakening to a still-potent post-tropical storm following an
accelerated track through Ontario, Québec and Atlantic Canada.
Conditions
Post-tropical Storm Ike brought record-breaking rainfalls to some localities in eastern Canada as
well as storm-force winds gusting to more than 100 km/h. Maximum rainfalls of more than 60 mm
were reported in Ontario, Québec and Labrador as PT Ike tracked east northeastward. Numerous
locations reported 50 mm or greater in less than six hours. The heavy rain passed north of the
Maritimes.
RA IV/HC-XXXI/Doc. 4.2(2), p. 4
Peak Provincial Wind Gusts (km/h) Peak Provincial Rainfall (mm)
Port Colborne, ON – 106
Wilder Lake, ON – 77
Wreckhouse, NL – 98
Bagotville, QC – 73
Cap-Madeleine, QC – 85
Cartwright, NL – 66
Mechanic Settlement, NB – 78
Gagetown, NB – 37
St. Paul Island, NS – 74
East Point, PEI – 67
Impacts
The strong winds resulted in downed trees and power outages in the heavier population areas of
southern Ontario and along the Saint-Lawrence River in Québec. An unrelated heavy rain event
the day before in Ontario created a dangerous potential for flooding. Fortunately the two events
didn’t overlap and the weekend rain maximum was limited to 125 mm at Curunna and 115 mm at
Goderich, ON.
Warnings & Information Statements
Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) staff across eastern Canada issued timely and accurate
weather warnings in advance of this storm system. The CHC issued 7 information statements.
Coordination and Communication Effort
The scale and nature of this post-tropical storm demanded a well-coordinated all-hands-on-deck
approach by all MSC weather services—Ontario and east—and continual consultations by the
Canadian Hurricane Centre during September 11-15 included: the Storm Prediction Centres in
Ontario, Québec and Atlantic; the Canadian Meteorological Centre; and Environment Canada
Client Services and Warning Preparedness Meteorologists throughout eastern Canada. Direct
consultation and coordination also included Public Safety Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources, and Ontario Conservation Authorities.
4.
Kyle
Storm
On September 25, Tropical Storm Kyle formed about 900 km east of Nassau, Bahamas. Kyle
tracked almost due north for two days before reaching hurricane strength when it was 550 km east
of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Over the following 30 hours Kyle covered more than 1000 km as
it moved north northeast, eventually making landfall in Nova Scotia as a marginal Category 1
hurricane (120 km/h) with a central pressure of 986 mb. Landfall was just south of the boundary
between Yarmouth and Digby Counties in western Nova Scotia … just north of Yarmouth, at 9:30
pm ADT, Sunday September 28. Kyle marks the first land-falling hurricane in Canada since Juan
made landfall in Nova Scotia exactly 5 years earlier (12:10 am ADT, September 29, 2003).
Conditions
Kyle brought sustained hurricane force winds to southwestern Maritime waters and portions of the
Atlantic coast of southwestern Nova Scotia. Rainfalls near and west of the storm track, over New
Brunswick, extreme western Nova Scotia, and southeastern Québec, were in the range of 50-100
mm, although some of this came in a separate burst of tropical air which preceded Kyle. An
estimated storm surge of 80 cm on top of a new moon spring tide arrived within a couple of hours
of the daily high tide.
Reports – Top 8 Wind Gusts
Georges Bank Buoy – gusts 128 km/h
Baccaro Point NS – gusts 124 km/h
Reports – Top 8 Rainfalls
Bon Accord NB – 72 mm
Havre-Saint Pierre QC – 70 mm
RA IV/HC-XXXI/Doc. 4.2(2), p. 5
Lahave Bank Buoy – gusts 115 km/h
Grand Etand NS – gusts 106 km/h
Wreckhouse NL – gusts 106 km/h
Western Head NS – gusts 102 km/h
McNab’s Island NS – gusts 102 km/h
Lunenburg NS – 93 km/h
Cap-Despoir QC – 66 mm
Cap-Chat QC – 64 mm
Grand Manan NB – 60 mm
Cap-Madeleine QC – 53 mm
Yarmouth NS – 43 mm
Halifax Airport NS – 35 m
Impacts
Power outages were reported in all three Maritime provinces with more than 40,000 Nova Scotia
customers losing power for much of the night. Coastal inundation from the combined surge, waves
and tide occurred in Nova Scotia’s Shelburne and Yarmouth Counties and, combined with wind
gusts over 100 km/h, resulted in some damage to boats, docks, wharves, beach lines, and the
failure of one building under construction. The hardest hit area was Shelburne County in Nova
Scotia.
Warnings & Information Statements
The Canadian Hurricane Centre issued: its first bulletin more than three days before Kyle made
landfall; a hurricane watch for Nova Scotia’s tri-county area of Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby
thirty hours before landfall; and an upgrade to a hurricane warning six hours prior to landfall.
Tropical storm watches and warnings were also issued for the southern portions of New Brunswick
and the southwestern half of Nova Scotia. In addition, Environment Canada’s Storm Prediction
Centres in Atlantic and Québec regions issued various inland wind, rain and surge warnings as
well marine wind warnings. The CHC issued 21 information statements as well as hurricane and
tropical storm watches and warnings for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Coordination and Communication Effort
Environment Canada provided timely weather warnings to Canadians and also support to
emergency planners and emergency services both before and during the event. More than 160
media interviews were conducted by weather service staff in addition to two proactive technical
media briefings held by the Canadian Hurricane Centre. Continual consultations by the Canadian
Hurricane Centre during September 25-29 included: the US National Hurricane Center; the Atlantic
and Québec Storm Prediction Centres; the US National Weather Service (in New England); the
Eastern Canadian Meteorological Aviation Centre; the Canadian Meteorological Centre; Aviation
and Defence Services Halifax; and Environment Canada Client Services and Warning
Preparedness Meteorologists throughout eastern Canada. Direct consultation and coordination
also included Public Safety Canada and the Emergency Measures Organizations in Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
5.
Additional Information
1. Tropical Storm Bertha clipped the southern portions of the CHC RZ on July 16 and then moved
through the southeastern portions of the RZ on July 19-20, but gales did not move into
Canadian waters.
2. On the morning of September 29, Subtropical Storm Laura formed about 1150 km southeast of
Newfoundland. Laura entered the CHC RZ on September 30 as a 50-knot (93 km/h)
subtropical storm and reached the extreme southeastern tip of the Southeastern Grand Banks
on October 1 at the same strength. However, the storm system quickly became non-tropical
despite maintaining gale- force winds. There were no impacts on land and while gales were
suspected to have occurred in the southeastern extremity of the Grand Banks no reports were
received. The CHC issued 13 bulletins.
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