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Nova Scotia experienced a year of extreme weather events, from record-breaking heat to heavy rainfalls and flash floods. Environment Canada meteorologist Jim Prime reflected on the trends, calling it a year of “above-normal temperatures” and significant weather activity across the Maritimes.
The year’s first major weather event came courtesy of a stalled weather system in February, impacting Sydney and Eastern P.E.I. The storm left a mark as one of Environment Canada’s top ten weather events for the year. Communities in Cape Breton were left digging out of the snow for days, and led to a local state of emergency being put in place.
As the seasons changed, Nova Scotia saw an intense start to summer. June began with record-breaking heat, including Halifax’s highest-ever June temperature of 34.3 degrees Celsius. Prime noted, “The previous record was 33.1 from 2023. It started off the summer really warm, affecting all of the Maritimes.”
July brought heavy rainfall, with two significant weather events. One involved the remnants of Hurricane Barrel, which dumped 150 millimeters of rain in just 18 hours, triggering flash floods in the Annapolis Valley. “The atmosphere just wrung out all the available moisture as it passed over Nova Scotia,” Prime explained.
By October, unseasonal warmth returned. Kentville recorded a high of 23 degrees Celsius on Halloween, a stark contrast to typical autumn weather. However, a cold front quickly followed, bringing a more familiar chill to the region.
November stood out for its persistent rain and cloud cover, caused by stalled low-pressure systems. While it kept temperatures above normal, residents endured “clouds, rain, day after day,” according to Prime.
Hurricane season concluded with above-average activity in the Atlantic, with 18 named storms and five major hurricanes. While the Maritimes were largely spared, storms like Debbie and Barrel contributed to the year’s notable precipitation levels.
Looking ahead, Prime highlighted the importance of monitoring Gulf water temperatures and their impact on future precipitation. “Does that mean more squall activity or flash floods? It’s something we’ll need to keep a close eye on,” he said.
Overall, every month in Nova Scotia, the temperature was either near or above normal, with no below-normal months recorded. As December unfolds, forecasters expect temperatures to remain steady, capping off what Prime described as a “year of extremes.”
