Hurricane Juan About to Hit Canada's Nova Scotia
Date: 29-Sep-03
Country: CANADA
Weather officials said Juan, the fifth hurricane of the Atlantic season, was likely to weaken slightly as it passed over colder waters during the afternoon, but would still bring hurricane conditions to parts of Nova Scotia by the evening -- including Canada's major port of Halifax -- the Canadian Hurricane Center said.
"It is under control right now, but we see potential damage. Our windows are taped in the weather office," said Mike Campbell, meteorologist at the Canadian Hurricane Center in Halifax.
He said the hurricane should hit the land around 10 p.m. Atlantic Time (9 p.m. EDT/ 0100 GMT).
Rain and wind warnings were in force for Nova Scotia and hurricane-force wind warnings were in effect for the Atlantic coastline, the center said.
At 3:30 p.m. EDT, the hurricane's center was about 250 miles south of Halifax.
Some storm surge flooding of up to 3 feet above the tide was expected along the south coast of Nova Scotia, with waves in excess of 40 feet, or the equivalent of a four-story building.
"When it hits, we are expecting winds of 120 to 150 kilometers per hour (75 -- 95 mph), which will topple trees and bring down power lines," Campbell told Reuters.
He said he expected between two to three inches of rain.
Campbell said Hurricane Juan will weaken after hitting Nova Scotia's mainland and was set to go across the nearby province of Prince Edward Island.
"It will hit Prince Edward Island by midnight local time (11 p.m. EDT) and go into the Gulf of St. Lawrence after," he said.