A chilling shadow has fallen over Halloween celebrations in Eastern Canada as Hurricane Melissa, fresh from a devastating rampage through the Caribbean, barrels towards the region.
The storm unleashed fierce winds and torrential rain upon the Maritimes on Friday, a grim preview of what’s to come for Newfoundland. By midday, Melissa, still a Category 1 hurricane, was a formidable presence 700 kilometers southeast of Halifax, relentlessly pushing northeast at 70 kilometers per hour.
Earlier, the hurricane’s fury peaked with winds reaching a terrifying 139 km/h. Now, it’s contributing its moisture to a massive, already saturated low-pressure system that drenched eastern Ontario and Quebec just yesterday, amplifying the threat.
Rainfall warnings blanket Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec, urging residents to prepare for significant downpours. In the Maritimes, a frantic scramble is underway to secure or dismantle Halloween decorations before the escalating winds tear them apart.
Emergency officials warn of gusts potentially reaching 75 km/h, creating hazardous conditions with reduced visibility, slippery surfaces, and scattered debris. The remnants of Melissa are expected to exacerbate rainfall from an existing weather system, compounding the danger.
A direct message from the Emergency Management Minister urged children to exercise caution: “Hold onto your hats and walk carefully with an adult,” she advised, “The candy will taste all the sweeter when everyone is safe.”
The storm’s impact was already being felt, with over 2,000 Nova Scotia residents plunged into darkness by midday Friday as power outages began to mount.
A glimmer of hope exists for trick-or-treaters in central and western Nova Scotia, and southern New Brunswick, where conditions are predicted to improve by suppertime. However, some communities are taking no chances.
Two New Brunswick coastal communities have proactively postponed Halloween events until Saturday, prioritizing safety above all else. Similar decisions are unfolding in Prince Edward Island, as the slow-moving storm threatens to linger throughout the day.
As Melissa approaches Newfoundland, it’s expected to transition into a post-tropical storm. Despite the change in classification, the threat remains substantial, with gusts up to 80 km/h forecast for the southern and eastern Avalon Peninsula.
Residents brace for three to six hours of heavy rainfall and potentially massive waves reaching seven meters along the peninsula’s southwest coast. The precise path of the storm will determine the severity of the impact, with a westward track potentially bringing even stronger winds and heavier rain.
Melissa’s journey began with a terrifying landfall in southwest Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, unleashing winds of 295 km/h. It matched records for Atlantic hurricane strength at landfall, both in wind speed and atmospheric pressure.
The storm’s devastation has already claimed at least 19 lives in Jamaica and a heartbreaking 31 in neighboring Haiti, a stark reminder of the immense power of these natural forces.
The approaching storm serves as a potent reminder of nature’s unpredictable force, casting a pall over Halloween festivities and demanding vigilance from communities across Eastern Canada.
