Nova Scotia: From Burning Down To Drowning In Epic Flood

Nova Scotia, Canada is the latest place to suffer 
through severe flooding. Four people are missing after
up to 10 inches of rain fell in a day. 

 Remember back in May and early June, when Nova Scotia was burning down, destroying something like 200 houses and sending smoke down the United States East Coast?

I suppose the "good" news is the Nova Scotia fires are out. 

However, there isn't any truly good news coming out of Nova Scotia. They've just had a flood that is at least as bad, if not worse the the huge inundation we in Vermont just experienced.

At last report, four people, including two children, were missing in the flood.

As Reuters reports: 

"The storm, which started on Friday, dumped more than...10 inches on some parts in just 24 hours - the same amount that usually lands in three months. The resulting floods washed away roads, weakened bridges and swamped buildings."

Rain continued on Saturday but is finally tapering off in Atlantic Canada. 

It has been a bad year for weather disasters in Canada. Says Reuters:

"The flooding was the latest weather-related calamity to pound Canada this year. Wildfires have already burned a record number of hectares, sending clouds of smoke into the United States. Earlier this month, heavy rains caused floods in several eastern U.S. states."

It seems like Nova Scotia, a beautiful coastal province that is a magnet for tourists, can't catch a break.  As NPR reports:

"'Some of the same residents that were impacted by the wildfires are now dealing with the flooding, Halifax Councillor Lisa Blackburn told NPR."

 On top of that, Hurricane Fiona caused extensive damage in Nova Scotia, along with Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland last September. 

The same weather pattern that afflicted Vermont with floods is essentially responsible for the Nova Scotia floods. That weather pattern is breaking down, which shifted the heavy rains associated with it further east, into Atlantic Canada. The fire hose of wet, humid air slammed into Nova Scotia. 

All these weather crises in Nova Scotia are consistent with climate change. The hurricane last September maintained its strength as far north as Canada because unusually warm Atlantic waters fed it. 

The fires in May were encouraged by a very early snow melt and record high temperatures during the spring, which dried things out. 

The rainfall Friday in Nova Scotia was probably enhanced by now record high ocean temperatures off the coast.  Warmer than normal air is more efficient at picking up moisture from those toasty Atlantic waters helping to encourage the extreme downpours. 

Video: Drone view of Bedford, Nova Scotia. Click on this link to view or click on image below: