HALIFAX, NS -- As Canada braces for Hurricane Sandy, we have already suffered our first casualties. The Nova Scotia-built tall ship HMS Bounty sunk in high seas off the North Carolina coast. Fourteen sailors were rescued but two remain missing.
Still in question is why and how the ship ended up off the North Carolina coast about 250 km from the eye of the storm.
Hurricane Sandy will be felt from the Maritimes all the way to Ontario, according to the Canadian Hurricane Centre says. From 50 to 100 millimetres of rain is expected to drench the western Maritimes Tuesday and Wednesday. Parts of southern Ontario could see 30 to 50 mm of rain as the storm passes through. It’s also possible the rain could turn to snow over central Ontario.
Seven-metre waves could be hitting the Great Lakes and large waves are also expected to hit Nova Scotia’s south shore.
For Quebec, Environment Canada said, “there is potential for breaking sea conditions” off the coasts of the Gulf of St. Lawrence between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday. In breaking seas, waves crest further from shore, creating dangerous conditions for those on the water. Such turbulent surface conditions may prevail off Forillon National Park, Gaspé and Percé on the eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, the weather agency said, as well as off Sept-Îles and Port-Cartier on the North Shore.