Severe Post-Tropical Cyclone Fiona - Canada's 'Superstorm Sandy'

On September 23^rd, 2022, severe post-tropical cyclone Fiona underwent rapid extratropical transition from a category-3 major hurricane as it tracked just north of Bermuda and made landfall in Nova Scotia early on September 24^th. In the days leading up to the event, the storm was billed as Canada's 'Superstorm Sandy' in an effort to emphasize the significant danger it posed. This very large and powerful storm brought extreme winds, 2m+ storm surge and devastating ocean waves to many parts of Atlantic Canada. The storm set a new national record for lowest sea level pressure of a marine cyclone making landfall in Canada. Near ¾ of a billion dollars in insured damage was inflicted on the region and almost all residents described the storm as the worst in their memory. Fiona was the costliest natural disaster in Atlantic Canada’s history. Primary aspects of the operational forecasting of this event will be the focus of this presentation.