Tropical storm Leslie hits Newfoundland and rainfall causes flooding in central Nova Scotia

Tropical storm Leslie made landfall in Newfoundland’s Burin Peninsula the morning of Sept. 11, with hurricane-force gusts and heavy rainfall causing some property damage and flooding in parts of the Atlantic provinces.

Tropical storm watches are in effect for areas of eastern and southern Newfoundland, meaning winds of 63km per hour or more are expected within 24 hours. That watch also implies threats of potential flooding from heavy rainfall, according to the Canadian Hurricane Centre.

The Avalon Peninsula has had gusts as strong as 130km per hour, according to the centre. The strongest winds have been in eastern Newfoundland, between 100 and 130km per hour.

Heavy rain has also drenched parts of western Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, with some areas seeing as much as 100mm of rainfall.

Large long period waves are also hitting southern Newfoundland. The centre forecasts waves between four and seven metres for the southwest coast, and between eight and 12 metres for the Placentia Bay. Waves in the Avalon Peninsula could reach between five and nine metres.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for:

• St. John’s and the vicinity
• Avalan Peninsula North, Southeast and Southwest
• Clarenville and the vicinity
• Bona Vista Peninsula
• Terra Nova
• Bonavista North
• Bay of Exploits
• Burin Peninsula
• Connaigre
• Burgeo to Ramea

Heavy rain has also caused two rivers to overflow in Truro, Nova Scotia. Many roads and businesses are closed and several residents have voluntarily evacuated from their homes, according to the province’s emergency management office.

“The province may offer a disaster financial assistance program,” the premier’s office said in a statement. “This is a joint federal and provincial program to help Nova Scotians who sustained uninsurable losses to a primary residence or a small business.”

“The first step is for residents and business to assess the damages,” according to emergency management office minister Ross Landry. “The province will then work with those impacted and the municipality to prepare a submission to the federal government. If approved, this program provides a basic level of support to help Nova Scotians repair their homes and business.”