The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) determined that Hurricane Earl had weakened to Tropical Cyclone Earl at 5 p.m. AST on Saturday. The system still had maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h, and forecasters expect those winds to slowly diminish over the next few days. The transition from a tropical cyclone to an extratropical cyclone is mostly a bureaucratic distinction in terms of impact. Although the system no longer has the composition of a hurricane, it is still a major storm with heavy rain and strong winds producing high waves along coastal areas throughout the Maritimes. In fact, Earl’s now-former wind field stretches more than 1,000 km from one end of the storm to the other, the same distance from Windsor to Quebec City. This type of development is common as storms lose their tropical characteristics and race northward. Swells created by Earl will affect Bermuda, parts of the US East Coast, and Nova Scotia and Newfoundland over the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. PREPARE FOR THE PEAK SEASON: Everyone needs an emergency kit at home. See what to stock up on with yours
WARNING: Hurricanes mean big waves and prime surf for Atlantic Canada
Earl pushes into Canadian waters for the weekend
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued a tropical cyclone statement, wind and rainfall warning and special weather statement for the Avalon Peninsula as it continues to monitor the system’s progress. “Most impacts from this storm are expected to remain offshore, but rain at times and strong northeasterly winds are expected on the Avalon Peninsula later today, continuing into the early hours of Monday,” the ECCC said in a statement Saturday morning. Strong northeasterly winds are expected on the Avalon Peninsula Saturday afternoon and will persist through Sunday with a gradual weakening. A wind warning is currently in effect for the southern Avalon Peninsula, including St. John’s and surrounding area, with gusts reaching 110 km/h in exposed areas. An upper-level trough over Atlantic Canada will prevent the storm from moving over the next few days, keeping the system just off the coast of Newfoundland until early Tuesday, contributing to locally high rainfall totals over Avalon. Totals could reach 50-80mm, with locally greater amounts in excess of 100mm possible. Rainfall rates could reach 10 to 20 millimeters per hour at times. Rain, sometimes heavy, can cause road erosion, localized flooding and hazardous driving conditions for the Avalon Peninsula. “Remember, though, this rain will fall over several days, so the threat of flooding will be low, but Earl will still lead to very wet days for communities on the Avalon Peninsula,” said Kelly Sonnenburg, a meteorologist at The Weather Network. Oceans from Earl began to reach the coasts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland on Saturday morning. Long period waves along eastern Avalon are forecast to reach 5-7m and persist late into Sunday. Higher than normal water levels with large waves and pounding will affect the southern and eastern shores of Avalon. MUST SEE: Rare tropical rain threatens California days after record heat The NHC also described a disturbance in the tropical Atlantic for potential development over the next five days. This system remains far from land and there is plenty of time to watch its potential development and watch. Thumbnail courtesy of NOAA. Stay with The Weather Network for the latest forecasts throughout the hurricane season.
