Bill update from CHC

Here is the latest information from the Canadian Hurricane Centre...

Hurricane Bill intermediate information statement issued by the Canadian Hurricane Centre of environment Canada at 12.00 Noon ADT Sunday 23 august 2009.

Hurricane Bill was located near latitude 43.3 N and longitude 64.0 W. About 90 nautical miles or 150 km south southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Bill is moving towards the northeast at 29 knots... 54 Km/h. Maximum sustained winds are estimated at 75 knots... 140 Km/h and central pressure at 965 mb. The satellite presentation of Bill is still very tropical with a large area of convection offshore of Nova Scotia displaced to the east of the low level centre which is about 100 kilometres south of Lunenburg County. The outer rainbands have moved across Nova Scotia and into Prince Edward Island and southern and central New Brunswick. The centre of hurricane Bill passed by just to south of the Georges Bank buoy between 08 utc and 09 utc. The lowest atmospheric pressure reported by the buoy was 965 mbs with a peak 5-metre wind at 52 knots. The maximum significant wave height reported by the buoy was 10.7 Metres but the wave recording equipment stopped reporting for two hours at the height of the hurricane force winds. By 12 utc the Lahave bank buoy was reporting winds near hurricane force with a peak wind at 73 knots and significant wave heights were 13.4 Metres with a maximum wave height at 26.4 Metres. The centre of bill is expected very near this buoy shortly. Much of mainland Nova Scotia is being battered by rainbands reaching out from hurricane Bill. These rainbands are even moving into southern New Brunswick reaching north of Fredericton and Moncton. Rainfall rates of 15 to 20 millimetres per hour have been reported in these rain bands making driving conditions hazardous with reduced visibilities and standing water on roadways. This heavy rainfall has the potential to cause street and road flooding. Undermine some road surfaces.. Washouts and flooded basements. Total rainfall amounts in southern Nova Scotia are up to 60 millimetres up to the noon hour. Southern New Brunswick has reported 20 to 40 millimetres. These rain bands are now moving into Prince Edward Island eastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. The rain bands will begin affecting Newfoundland later today. Sustained tropical storm force winds have reached the coast of Nova Scotia as well. Baccaro point has reported sustained winds of 36 knots (67 km/h) and a maximum wind at 46 knots (85 km/h). Yarmouth airport had a peak gust at 38 knots (70 km/h). Lunenburg has reported maximum winds at 43 knots (80 km/h).Winds in the Halifax regional municipality have reached 39 knots(72 km/h). There are media reports of trees down in the HRM area. There are numerous reported power outages across the entire south shore of Nova Scotia. The winds will continue to increase this afternoon in the Maritimes as bill nears the coastline. The wind will reach Newfoundland tonight. Large waves are beginning to reach the coastline of Nova Scotia at noon. The buoy outside Halifax harbour has reported a maximum wave height of 6.9 Metres this morning and this is forecast to reach 5 to 10 metres along the entire coastline this afternoon. There are reports that the roadway in eastern passage is underwater. RCMP reports large swells are reaching the Peggys Cove area. Roadways near the coast are being closed in several areas. A combination of these large waves with the forecast storm surge of 0.5 to 1.0 metres may lead to shoreline erosion and damage to wharves and coastal structures as well as generating dangerous rip currents at local beaches.