In 2014, the Canadian Hurricane Centre issued 82 hurricane information statements on four tropical cyclones.
The two main events for the season were:
- Post-Tropical Storm Arthur which made landfall on July 5th in Nova Scotia, produced heavy rain and high winds as it tracked across the Bay of Fundy and southeastern New Brunswick and then eastward over the Gulf of St. Lawrence; and
- Post-Tropical Storm Gonzalo which tracked off the coast of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland on October 19th produced high winds and waves.
In terms of the number of major hurricanes, 2014 was much more active than 2013’s notably quiet season. Below is a summary of the two most significant events of tropical origin affecting Canada in 2014.
Post-Tropical Storm Arthur
Hurricane Arthur formed from a low pressure system over the southeastern United States that moved offshore causing tropical cyclone development. The system became a tropical depression on July 1st and then strengthened to Tropical Storm Arthur later that day. Arthur continued to intensify while drifting northward and became a category two hurricane early on July 4th, just prior to making landfall in North Carolina. Post-Tropical Storm Arthur made landfall in southwestern Nova Scotia on July 5th as a powerful storm with sustained winds estimated at 110 km/h. Arthur then steadily weakened as it moved across the Bay of Fundy and southeastern New Brunswick and then eastward across the Gulf of St. Lawrence. By July 6th, Arthur had weakened with moderate wind-gusts and rain showers near Port aux Basques, Newfoundland.
Arthur was a very powerful post-tropical storm as it approached and tracked across the Maritimes. It is uncommon for such a strong storm of tropical origin to affect Canada that early in the season. Southern New Brunswick and the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia experienced the majority of storm impacts, primarily caused by high winds. Arthur’s hurricane-force wind gusts caused widespread tree damage and power outages in many parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In addition, heavy rain in parts of New Brunswick caused localized flooding, road washouts and infrastructure damage.
Post-Tropical Storm Gonzalo
Hurricane Gonzalo formed from a tropical wave in the Atlantic, east of the Caribbean Sea, on October 12th. The storm intensified as it tracked northwestward reaching category four strength on October 15th with winds gusting to 230 km/h. On October 18th, Gonzalo passed directly over central Bermuda as a category two hurricane. The storm then accelerated northeastward and slowly weakened. On October 19th, Hurricane Gonzalo moved rapidly northeastward about 60 km southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland.
The Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia experienced waves of 3 to 5 metres. However, the largest impact from Gonzalo was along the south coast of the Avalon Peninsula where 5 to 8 metre waves and a storm surge of approximately 80 centimetres were reported. Offshore, hurricane-force winds and very large waves severely disrupted marine travel for Laurentian Fan and the Grand Banks.
