After Hurricane "Fiona" has hit a path of devastation through parts of the Caribbean island world, especially with its rainfall, the cyclone is slowly moving northward through the Atlantic. On Saturday (September 24), it finally hits the Canadian east coast as an extratropical storm, and the weather services are expecting record-breaking values. At the core of the storm, a new low value for the region could then prevail with 914 hectopascals (hPa): so far, the lowest measured atmospheric pressure is around 940 hPa. At the same time, heavy precipitation, hurricane-force gusts of wind and extremely strong surf are expected: buoys on the high seas measured waves of sometimes more than 15 meters in height.
The extreme weather could also endanger a unique pony breed that lives on Sable Island off the Canadian coast, reports Reuters. Around 500 of the animals live on the treeless island, the most outstanding points of which are 30 meters high, simple sand dunes and where there are hardly any overhead facilities. The Sable Island ponies are used to storms, but according to the Canadian meteorologist Bob Robichaud, "Fiona" is particularly dangerous: the storm pulls slowly and affects an exceptionally large area with its strong wind field; In addition, there is the pronounced storm surge, which will flood lower parts of the island.
This most recent run of the HWRF model brings #Fiona to landfall with a central pressure of 914 mb, which is just unthinkable. For perspective, at lower latitudes that would be a Category 5 hurricane. This will be a storm for the Canadian history books. pic.twitter.com/nB9CwduziM
The horses are descended from animals that had been brought to the island in the 18th century and were later released. Since then, they have been reproducing wild and adapting to the harsh conditions of the region. In addition to the horses, there is also a large colony of grey seals and a small group of employees of the Canadian National Park Administration on Sable Island. This team barricades itself in the island's only permanent building.
Wild Footage from Inside Hurricane Fiona from @saildrone. #Hurricane #hurricanefiona #fiona pic.twitter.com/d9ui9mukac
The above-average warm Atlantic Ocean favors the fact that "Fiona" can move so far north with hurricane strength. On the open sea, the warm air masses of the cyclone meet a system with Arctic cold air, which virtually rejuvenates and re-intensifies the storm. On its further path after the landfall, the storm then reaches the Canadian Arctic.
