HALIFAX—Parts of Nova Scotia including Halifax remain under a hurricane warning as Dorian is forecast to strike the province with what could be one of the strongest storms in recent memory.As of Friday afternoon, the Canadian Hurricane Centre (CHC) estimated that Hurricane Dorian would make landfall in Nova Scotia late Saturday, bringing winds of up to 150 km/h and as much as 150 mm of rain.During a media availability Friday, Bob Robichaud, a warning preparedness meteorologist with the CHC in Halifax, said Dorian’s destruction could rival that of Hurricane Juan: the 2003 storm that battered Halifax with 176 km/h winds and killed eight people during its run and aftermath.The municipality is taking no chances with the storm. Halifax Transit is shutting down its fleet as of noon Saturday for a minimum of 24 hours. Halifax has also taken the rare step of issuing a voluntary evacuation order for people living on coastal communities in the municipality, including the Sambro region, Peggy’s Cove and along the Eastern Shore.The Red Cross is also opening up three evacuation shelters at municipally-owned buildings for those who can’t find other accodations during the storm. The shelters open at noon Saturday and are located at the Dartmouth East Community Centre, Canada Games Centre, and St. Margarets Centre.Many stores and businesses in the city have already announced they aren’t opening at all Saturday, including Halifax Shopping Centre and Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth, N.S.The latest storm track for Dorian issued by the Canadian Hurricane Centre at 9 a.m. Saturday has the eye of Dorian crossing near to Halifax at about 3 a.m. Sunday. The strong sustained winds are listed for between 130 and 150 km/h.The Canadian Hurricane Centre will be providing an update to media about the storm later Saturday morning. More to come.
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