Warning: arsort() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 762
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 769
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 804
There’s and old saying in Nova Scotia regarding a nasty stretch of storms, rain or snow “We sure have having some weather these days.” This colloquial term is even more of an understatement the worse the weather becomes. And in the last few days I have been hearing it a lot.
Fierce winds have caused power outages that lasted until Christmas Day for many home owners. When the ice wasn’t dragging down lines the sea spray was causing arcing up on the power poles. All-in-all it was bad bout that lasted almost a week.
The reason for any weather in Nva Scotia is obviously the ocean. However, unlike many pasrt of the American east coast Nova Scotia is basically an island. In fact it is only joined to the mainland by less than 20 miles of low-lying areas called the Tantramar marsh. So of it is surrounded by water it only stands to reason the fluctuations in the ocean and the Bay of Fundy would have pronounced effects on the province.
Most of the year the Atlantic and Fundy waters are cold (8-12 degrees Celsuis or 46 to 50 Fahrenheit). This influences the land temperatures especially in the spring and fall which do not get the fluctuations of the mainland. For example, when the rest of the mainland areas are warming up Nova Scotia may be caught in a cool, wet funk that can last until July. Then in October, when other areas are beginning to freeze, Nova Scotia may experience a long, Indian summer until the end of November with freezing not coming until December or even January.
The warmth of the fall is due to the influence of the Gulf Stream that warms the areas farther offshore to the east, southeast, and south. This current has warm 16C waters and is credited with prolonging fall which, because of the leaves, many Nova Scotians feel to be the best season of the year. This ends when the St. Lawrence River and Northumberland Strait, to the north, become frozen.
The ice pack of the t. Lawrence Estuary is also the cause of the long, cool springs because even when the ice leaves cold water keep coming from upstream and the Labrador Current. The collision of warm Gulf Stream and the cold Labrador Current also produces foggy conditions that often move inland for many miles.
Cape Sable, in the southeast coast has the longest frost-free time of over half the year, longer than any other place in Atlantic Canada. The main agricultural areas in Nova Scotia are without frost for 120 to 130 days. This is between late May and early October. However, the best growing area is The Annapolis Valley which has up to 140 frost-free days and good soil. This is the wine growing area.
Nova Scotia can experience the tail-end of hurricanes for the south but rarely get the full impact. On such rare landing of a hurricane was on September 29, 2003 when Hurricane Juan came ashore and pounded Halifax. The storm claimed the lives of eight individuals and will be recorded as the most damaging storm in modern history for Halifax, N.S. Hundreds of thousands of Maritimers in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island were without power for much as two weeks.
Although Nova Scotia does “get weather” it is rarely in extremes and there are enough reasonably-priced accommodations to get out of the storms at any time.
gulf stream, northumberland strait, nova scotia travel nova scotia, nova scotians, power outages, st lawrence river, tantramar marsh 
Stumble it!