Canada’s most destructive hurricanes

As hurricane Earl moves toward the east coast of North America, Canadian weather watchers worry it could hit the Maritimes by the weekend.

Should it hit the east coast, Earl will not be the first hurricane to ever strike Canada. Global News takes a look at Canada’s most destructive hurricanes.

Hurricane Hazel: 1954

Perhaps the most destructive hurricane in modern Canadian history ripped through southern Ontario in October 1954 after crossing the Caribbean and eastern U.S.

Hurricane Hazel left 81 dead, and a path of destruction in its wake. Almost 2,000 families were left homeless as winds hit 124 kilometres per hour and rains flooded low-lying areas.

The Greater Toronto Area was the worst hit. The Humber River swelled and broke through a footbridge, washed away an entire block of homes along the edge of the river just downstream and killed 32 people.

More than 200 millimetres of rain fell in 24 hours – the worst flooding in Toronto in 200 years. The water destroyed a trailer park in Woodbridge, killing another 20 residents.

Over the next several days, bodies washed up on the shores of Lake Ontario and in New York State. All traffic to and from Toronto was blocked while authorities and residents surveyed the damage, estimated at over $100 million at the time.

Escuminac Disaster: 1959

Fishermen set out from the Escuminac Wharf in New Brunswick on the evening of June 19, 1959, in anticipation of catching salmon. The men had little warning of the weather to come.

By midnight, the wind had reached 120 km/h and the fishermen were thrown from their boats by the massive waves.

As it swept across the Maritimes, the unnamed hurricane killed 35 people, mostly lobster fishermen from the wharf.

A memorial statue was erected on the wharf in Escuminac to commemorate the catastrophe, known as the “˜Escuminac Disaster.’

Hurricane Juan: 2003

One of the most powerful hurricanes to ever hit Canada was in September 2003, when Hurricane Juan struck the eastern shores of Nova Scotia.

Eight people were killed as Juan ripped through the province, causing $200 million in damage and leaving 300,000 people without power for two weeks.

The storm brought winds of 140 km/h, tearing down hundreds of miles of power lines and about 100 million trees. Huge waves destroyed marinas all along the coast.

Hurricane Noel: 2007

The coast of Nova Scotia was battered again in November 2007. Hurricane Noel knocked out power to more than 170,000 homes and business in the province after battering the Caribbean and U.S. east coast.

Heavy rain and winds reaching 180 km/h washed out roads and uprooted trees. Coastal areas such as Lunenburg, Chester, Pictou and Cape Breton were the worst hit.

Damage was reported in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and even eastern Quebec.