Hurricane Fiona

Meteorological History

Hurricane Fiona originated from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of West Africa in early September 2022. The system gradually organized and was designated Tropical Depression Seven east of the Leeward Islands on September 14. Despite facing moderate wind shear, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Fiona early on September 15. The storm passed over Guadeloupe on September 16 with winds of 50 mph before entering the Caribbean Sea. Atmospheric conditions became more favourable, allowing Fiona to intensify into a hurricane as it approached Puerto Rico.

Fiona made its first major landfall near Punta Tocon in southwestern Puerto Rico at 19:20 UTC on September 18 with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. It then crossed the Mona Passage and struck the Dominican Republic near Boca de Yuma the following morning. After traversing Hispaniola, Fiona emerged over the Atlantic and began a period of rapid intensification. It became the season's first major hurricane, reaching Category 3 status on September 20, and further intensified to a Category 4 hurricane by September 21. Fiona reached its peak intensity with winds of 140 mph and a minimum central pressure of 931 mbar.

As it accelerated northward, Fiona began interacting with a mid-latitude trough and transitioned into a powerful post-tropical cyclone while still maintaining major hurricane-force winds. In this state, it made landfall in Nova Scotia near Whitehead on the Canso Peninsula early on September 24. At landfall, it had estimated sustained winds of 100 mph and a central pressure of approximately 931 mbar, setting a new Canadian record for the lowest pressure measured from a landfalling storm. The system then moved over Cape Breton Island and Prince Edward Island before weakening over the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The remnants of Fiona finally dissipated west of Greenland on September 27.

Preparations and Warnings

As Fiona developed and tracked westward, a series of tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for numerous Caribbean islands including Antigua, Barbuda, Guadeloupe, and Puerto Rico. By September 17, the first hurricane watches were issued for Puerto Rico, which were soon upgraded to hurricane warnings. Authorities in the region took precautionary measures, including the closure of Virgin Islands National Park. In the Dominican Republic, tropical storm watches were also put in place ahead of the storm's arrival.

Approaching Atlantic Canada, the unprecedented strength forecast for Fiona prompted urgent warnings from the Canadian Hurricane Centre. Meteorologists warned residents of heavy rainfall and powerful hurricane-force winds, describing the incoming event as severe. Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Bob Robichaud stated the storm would be one that everybody remembers. In response to the forecasts, tropical storm and hurricane warnings were issued for much of Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec. The Kejimkujik National Park in Nova Scotia was temporarily closed, and shelters were prepared in communities like Halifax and Cape Breton.

Impact in the Caribbean

The Caribbean bore the initial and some of the most severe impacts of Hurricane Fiona. In Guadeloupe, the storm brought torrential rain at rates exceeding 150 mm per hour, causing rivers to wash away roads and bridges. One person died when their house was swept away by floods. Fiona caused a catastrophic island-wide blackout in Puerto Rico on September 18, damaging all aspects of the electrical grid. Preliminary assessments indicated over $2 billion in damage to the grid alone. Extreme rainfall, with one gauge measuring 31.34 inches near Ponce, triggered devastating flooding and landslides. About one million people, a third of the population, were left without drinking water, and agriculture suffered roughly $100 million in losses. Total damage in Puerto Rico was estimated at $2.5 billion, and at least 21 deaths were attributed to the hurricane.

In the Dominican Republic, Fiona made landfall as the first hurricane to strike the country in 18 years. President Luis Abinader declared a state of emergency in several provinces. Over one million people lost running water and 350,000 were without electricity. Widespread rainfall of 8 to 16 inches caused significant flooding, resulting in at least two deaths and the destruction of over 8,300 homes. Damage was calculated at 25.1 billion pesos (approximately US$471 million). The storm also severely affected the Turks and Caicos Islands, where the eye passed over Grand Turk. Telecommunications were disrupted, and at least 40 percent of the territory lost electricity, with total blackouts on several islands. The storm's passage also forced the rescheduling of a women's cricket tour in Antigua.

Impact in Bermuda and Atlantic Canada

As Fiona passed west of Bermuda, its large size produced sustained tropical storm-force winds for several hours. A wind gust of 93 mph was recorded at L.F. Wade International Airport, and over 80 percent of the island lost power. The storm's most significant impacts in terms of intensity and record-setting metrics occurred in Atlantic Canada. Fiona made landfall in Nova Scotia as a post-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds comparable to a Category 2 hurricane. A weather station on Hart Island recorded a central pressure of 932.7 mbar, the lowest pressure ever measured for a landfalling cyclone in Canada. Extreme wind gusts were recorded across the region, including 179 km/h in Arisaig, Nova Scotia, and 180 km/h at Wreckhouse, Newfoundland and Labrador.

The storm generated enormous waves, with a buoy on the Banquereau Bank registering wave heights as high as 30 metres. A destructive storm surge pushed record water levels at Escuminac, New Brunswick, and Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. Fiona caused major flooding in Quebec's Magdalen Islands, southeastern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, northeastern Nova Scotia, and southern Newfoundland. Thousands of trees were knocked down across the region. The storm left more than 500,000 customers without power, affecting 80 percent of Nova Scotia and 95 percent of Prince Edward Island. Structural damage was extensive, with at least 100 homes damaged or destroyed in Newfoundland, primarily in Channel-Port aux Basques, displacing over 200 people. Notable landmarks like Teacup Rock on Prince Edward Island were destroyed, and the province's dune systems suffered severe erosion.

Casualties and Response

Hurricane Fiona resulted in at least 29 confirmed fatalities across the Caribbean and Canada. In Puerto Rico, at least 21 deaths were attributed to the storm. The Dominican Republic reported at least two deaths, and Guadeloupe reported one. In Canada, a woman in Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, was killed when her home was destroyed and she was swept into the ocean. Another person in Prince Edward Island died from carbon monoxide poisoning while operating a generator. A man in Lower Prospect, Nova Scotia, was swept out to sea and presumed dead. Search and rescue operations continued for about two weeks after the storm to account for all missing persons.

The response to the disaster was swift at multiple levels of government. U.S. President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for Puerto Rico, approving a disaster declaration that allowed FEMA to provide assistance for search and rescue, debris removal, and shelter. In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described Fiona as a very powerful and dangerous storm and cancelled a trip to Japan to oversee the response. He promised federal support and authorized the deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces to assist with assessment and cleanup efforts. Provincial and municipal officials, such as Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Amanda McDougall, coordinated local shelter and emergency response operations amid widespread damage.

Damage Assessment and Historical Context

The total financial cost of Hurricane Fiona was immense. Across all affected regions, damages were estimated to exceed $3 billion USD. In Canada alone, insured losses were estimated at about $800 million CAD, with total damage exceeding $845 million CAD. This made Fiona the costliest extreme weather event on record in Atlantic Canada and the seventh-costliest nationwide when adjusted for inflation. The storm's intensity set several meteorological records for Canada. Based on atmospheric pressure, it was the strongest post-tropical cyclone to make landfall in the country's history. It was also one of the wettest cyclones ever recorded in Canada, despite rainfall totals being lower than initially forecast in some areas due to dry air entrainment.

Fiona's impact underscored the vulnerability of Atlantic Canada to intense post-tropical systems. While severe hurricanes are rare in the region due to colder northern waters, Fiona demonstrated that transitioning cyclones can retain tremendous energy. Its pressure was potentially lower than any other recorded along the coast of eastern Northern America outside the U.S. Gulf Coast. The storm surpassed the impacts of previous notable cyclones like Hurricane Juan (2003) and Hurricane Dorian (2019) in terms of its recorded pressure and widespread destructive power. The event prompted renewed discussions about infrastructure resilience, coastal erosion, and emergency preparedness in the face of a changing climate and the potential for more extreme weather events.

Questions about Hurricane Fiona

Why was Hurricane Fiona so significant for Canada?

Hurricane Fiona was a historic and record-setting event for Canada. It was the most intense post-tropical cyclone to make landfall in the country based on atmospheric pressure, with a record-low pressure of 932.7 mbar measured on Hart Island. It also became the costliest cyclone in Canadian history at the time, with damages exceeding $845 million CAD, until that record was broken in 2024. The storm caused unprecedented power outages, coastal destruction, and flooding across four Atlantic provinces.

How many people died because of Hurricane Fiona?

Hurricane Fiona caused at least 29 confirmed deaths across the Caribbean and Canada. The majority of fatalities, at least 21, occurred in Puerto Rico. Other deaths were reported in Guadeloupe (1), the Dominican Republic (2), and Canada (3). In Canada, one death was in Newfoundland, one in Prince Edward Island, and one person was presumed dead in Nova Scotia.

What were the wind speeds when Fiona hit Canada?

At Canadian landfall, Fiona's maximum sustained winds were estimated to be around 169 km/h (105 mph), which is comparable to a Category 2 hurricane. However, peak wind gusts were significantly higher. A gust of 179 km/h (111 mph) was recorded in Arisaig, Nova Scotia. Other notable gusts included 180 km/h at Wreckhouse, Newfoundland and 150 km/h at East Point, Prince Edward Island.

What was the government response to Fiona in Canada?

The Canadian government responded with significant federal resources. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cancelled an international trip to oversee the response, describing the storm as critical. He authorized the deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces to assist provinces with damage assessment and cleanup. The government worked with provincial authorities in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec to provide emergency support and recovery funding.

What was the lowest atmospheric pressure recorded when Fiona made landfall in Canada?

The lowest atmospheric pressure recorded during Fiona's landfall in Canada was 931 mbar. This measurement was taken at Hart Island and set a new national record for the lowest pressure associated with a landfalling post tropical cyclone in Canada. This pressure was also potentially lower than any other recorded along the coast of eastern Northern America outside the US Gulf Coast states. It confirmed Fiona as the most intense post tropical cyclone to hit Canada on record.

How many customers lost power in Atlantic Canada due to Hurricane Fiona?

Hurricane Fiona left more than 500,000 customers without power across Atlantic Canada. In Nova Scotia, 80 percent of all customers lost electricity. The impact was even more severe on Prince Edward Island, where 95 percent of customers were left without power. This widespread outage was a major consequence of the storm's destructive winds.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Your Space Hamilton desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.