What Was Hurricane Fiona?
Hurricane Fiona was a powerful hurricane that hit seven countries, including Canada in 2022. It is known for the large amount of damage that it did to Puerto Rico, and for being the most powerful storm to hit Canada at the time, although it was surpassed two years later by Hurricane Debby. While in Canada, it hit all four Atlantic provinces and left an unforgettable scar on the lives of those who lived through it. Partially due to the immense impact that it had on eastern Canada, the name Fiona was permanently retired from the Atlantic Hurricane name rotation.
When Was Hurricane Fiona?
Hurricane Fiona happened in September of 2022. It began to take shape on September 12th over the central Atlantic Ocean, steadily becoming more powerful. On the 14th, it was deemed powerful enough to become a tropical depression and became a tropical storm the next day, when it was given the name of Fiona, marking it as the 6th named storm of the season. It lasted until the 27th, maintaining hurricane status for almost 2 weeks. It finally dissipated when on the coast of Greenland.
How Powerful Was Hurricane Fiona?
Hurricane Fiona at its most powerful had winds of 220 km/h (140 mph), which was enough to have it graded as a category 4 storm, the second highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale. While in Canada, Fiona had sustained winds of 160 km/h (100 mph), powerful enough to be graded as a category 2 storm, with the most powerful gusts hitting 180 km/h (112 mph), which if sustained would have been enough to give it category 3 status. Despite this, it was only given the status of a post-tropical storm for its duration in Canada.
What Path Did Hurricane Fiona Take?
Hurricane Fiona started in the central tropical Atlantic Ocean, becoming more powerful as it travelled west. By September 16th, it hit Guadeloupe, a group of six islands belonging to France in the Caribbean. By the 18th, it hit Puerto Rico, which was the hardest hit area, as a category 2 hurricane. From there, it turned almost directly north, increasing to Category 3 and then Category 4. It was the first major hurricane (category 3 or higher) of the year. It stayed away from the mainland United States but also hit the Dominican Republic, Antigua, Bermuda, and Turks and Caicos. It travelled further north, maintaining hurricane strength, maintaining category 4 and even category 3 strength much longer and much further north than most other hurricanes.
Where In Canada Did Hurricane Fiona Hit?
Hurricane Fiona hit all four of the Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador). It also brushed parts of Quebec. Whitehead, Nova Scotia was the first place hit, with landfall taking place on September 24. It initially hit with winds of 170 km/h (105 mph), with the highest winds recorded in Arisaig, Nova Scotia at 180 km/h (112 mph). It also hit Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick soon afterwards and hit the Magdalen Islands in Quebec. It then travelled further north, later hitting Newfoundland and Labrador.
How Many People Were Killed in Hurricane Fiona?
Hurricane Fiona killed a total of 29 people, three of which were from Canada. Puerto Rico was the heaviest hit place, suffering a total of 23 deaths. There were also two people killed in Puerto Rico, and a single person died in Guadeloupe. The three Canadians who were killed were a Port aux Basques woman who was swept into the ocean with her house, a man from Lower Prospect, Nova Scotia who was swallowed by the ocean, and a PEI resident who passed due to CO2 poisoning while operating a generator.
How Much Damage Did Hurricane Fiona Do?
Hurricane Fiona did a total of over $3 billion in damage, with Puerto Rico being hit the hardest at over $2.5 billion. Canada was hit with over $845 CAD million ($622 USD million) in damages.
The Magdalen Islands, Southeastern New Brunswick, PEI, Northeastern Nova Scotia and Southern Newfoundland all experienced very heavy flooding during Fiona. Most of these places also had several uprooted trees. Over 200 Newfoundlanders were left homeless after over 100 homes in Newfoundland were destroyed. Furthermore, over half a million people were left without power, with most of PEI and Nova Scotia being included in those numbers. A popular PEI attraction known as Teacup Rock was also destroyed in the storm.
How Did The Public Respond To Hurricane Fiona?
Hurricane Fiona was seen by the public as one of the most damaging storms of its era.
Puerto Rico was damaged very heavily in the hurricane, with then-US president Joe Biden approving a disaster declaration on the territory, allowing for heavy resources to be put towards things like search and rescue, food, shelter and other assistance to the residents for a month. The massive amount of damage done to the island, combined with the damage that was done to Atlantic Canada were the two primary factors involved in Fiona being deemed significant enough to have the name retired. In 2023, the World Meteorological Organization declared that the name Fiona would be replaced by the name Farrah in the rotation of Atlantic hurricane names. Farrah will be used as a hurricane name for the first time in 2028.