Record flooding in Nova Scotia leads to four missing people, state of emergency
As several Nova Scotia communities near Halifax continue to deal with the aftermath of major flooding from Friday's historic rainfall, a search operation for four missing people and a provincewide state of emergency continues.
Significant flash flooding swept through communities near Halifax, N.S., on Friday evening after relentless tropical downpours dropped 150-200+ mm of rain on the area in just a few hours.
Rushing floodwaters inundated roads throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), effectively cutting off access to some communities.
GET THE FORECAST: Maritimes face severe storm risk Saturday as floods hit Nova Scotia
"All residents asked to stay off roads and highways unless it's an emergency," provincial officials said in an emergency alert sent out on Friday night. Officials continued urging residents to stay home as the region deals with persistent flooding.
Four people reported missing, provincewide state of emergency issued
Search and rescue crews continued to look for four people reported missing after two vehicles were submerged by floodwaters on Friday night.
Three of five people were able to exit one vehicle, leaving two children missing, while two of the four individuals were able to flee the other vehicle, leaving a man and youth missing.
Lower Sackville, N.S., flooding. (Colleen/Submitted)
On Sunday morning, Nova Scotia RCMP spokesperson Cindy Bayers told CBC News that finding them is top of mind and that extra resources have been added to support these efforts.
Meanwhile, a provincewide state of emergency was issued late Saturday, with officials deeming West Hants, East Hants, the Halifax Regional Municipality, Lunenburg County and Queens County as among the hardest-hit areas, CBC News reported.
A state of emergency frees up funds and resources to allow officials to respond to the flooding and its aftermath.
Halifax officials also reminded residents to stay away from floodwaters, as the water likely contains hazardous materials like gasoline and raw sewage.
Many roads remain impassable or are closed. A map of roads blocked due to flooding in the Halifax region can be found here.
An evacuation order remains for the Fancy Lake area in Lunenburg County, but it has been rescinded for people living near St. Croix River system.
Historic rainfall totals
Widespread rainfall totals of 100-200+ mm fell across the Halifax area, with the heaviest rains hitting communities west and north of Halifax proper.
Some of the heaviest rain fell over areas devastated by wildfires in late May and early June, which likely exacerbated the extent of the flooding in the affected areas.
On Saturday, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a summary with preliminary rainfall totals. Several communities recorded more than 200 mm of rainfall in a short time.
These are unprecedented rainfall totals for the region, more akin to a heavy rainfall event you’d see somewhere like Florida instead of the Canadian Maritimes. For some perspective, Halifax typically averages about 95 mm of rain during the entire month of July.
A sizable plume of tropical moisture streaming into the region from the south fuelled the heavy rainfall. Persistent thunderstorms tapped into this moisture like a reservoir, efficiently wringing out copious amounts of water over the region.
If you’re in the region, it’s safest to stay home until the rain stops and floodwaters have a chance to recede. Never attempt to drive across a flooded roadway. It’s impossible to tell how deep the water is until it’s too late, and the road may be washed out beneath the floodwaters. Only a small amount of moving water can strand a vehicle and even carry it downstream.
Residents across the area posted photos and videos of the flooding on social media. Check out some of the visuals from the area, below.
WATCH: Pouring rain drenches Halifax as storms tap into stifling humidity
WATCH: How flash flooding occurs in urban areas
Thumbnail courtesy of Glenn Banfield, taken in Elmsdale, N.S.
With files from CBC News, and Dennis Mersereau and Nathan Howes, digital journalists at The Weather Network.