Hurricane Juan made landfall in Halifax on September 29, 2003
Hurricane Juan made landfall in Halifax on September 29, 2003
It hit as a category two hurricane late night and caused significant damage and power outages, as well as the death of a paramedic on September 29, 2003
**** Info via Environment Canada
Hurricane Juan 20th anniversary
On this day 20 years ago, Hurricane Juan made landfall in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Its maximum sustained winds of around 158 km/h caused widespread damage across the Atlantic provinces.
The storm’s intensity led to power outages affecting more than 300,000 residents, with some areas experiencing disruptions for up to two weeks. Over 1,000 power poles were downed, and countless trees were uprooted, blocking roads and hindering recovery efforts. Tragically, Hurricane Juan resulted in the loss of eight lives in Canada.
Infrastructure endured substantial damage, totalling an estimated $100 million. Homes, businesses, and public buildings faced structural damage, while numerous boats and vessels were either damaged or destroyed in marinas.
The impact also extended beyond the immediate damages, with the total economic losses, including business interruptions and post-storm recovery, estimated at over $300 million
Retiring Juan
In the aftermath of the storm, the Canadian government asked the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to officially retire the name Juan from its rotating list of hurricane names, considering its devastating impacts on the people of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. It was the first time Canada made such a request, and in 2004, the WMO replaced Juan with Joaquin. The decision to retire a hurricane name is a significant step taken when a storm’s impact has been exceptionally severe and serves to honour and remember those affected.
As we commemorate this sad anniversary, we recognize the lessons learned from Hurricane Juan, highlighting the importance of remaining vigilant and prepared to face such storms.
