American writer Diane Ackerman once said, “Hurricane season brings a humbling reminder that, despite our technologies, most of nature remains unpredictable.”
The current winter lobster season off Southwestern Nova Scotia has seen wind, wind and more wind. Many veteran skippers say they have never seen anything like it in recent memory and quickly add that each year the winds appear to be getting consistently worse.
The most recent Atlantic hurricane season might have officially ended on November 30, but you would never know it by the gales impacting our region. Luckily, this neck of the woods managed to escape the wrath of any hurricanes or tropical storms this past season. But, as you all know, we have not always been so lucky.
Climatologists are stating that the recent 2025 hurricane season was notable for its striking contrasts — wavering between periods of relative calm and bursts of intense activity, generating very powerful storms.
Overall, the season fell within the predicted ranges for named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes issued in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) seasonal outlooks.
The Atlantic basin produced 13 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), of which five became hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater), including four major hurricanes with winds reaching 111 mph or greater.
An average season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. While the climatological peak of the hurricane season was quiet with no tropical activity, the season generated three Category 5 hurricanes, the second-most on record in a single season.
Tropical storm Andrea formed on June 23, kicking off the season. Tropical storms Barry and Chantal then developed in rapid succession, before activity took a pause. Chantal was the only storm to make landfall, bringing excessive rainfall and flooding to North Carolina.
Hurricane Erin was the first Category 5 storm of the season and brought storm surge and tropical storm conditions to the North Carolina Outer Banks and rough surf and rip currents along the East Coast. Erin underwent rapid intensification and is tied for the fifth-fastest 24-hour increase in maximum sustained winds on record, from 75 mph to 160 mph. Erin also tied for the third-fastest 24-hour pressure drop in the Atlantic basin on record, dropping 83 millibars from 998 mb to 915 mb.
Hurricane Humberto became the second Category 5 hurricane and soon after, Hurricane Imelda developed and became the final storm of September.
Hurricane Melissa developed into the third Category 5 hurricane of the season and became one of the strongest Atlantic basin hurricane landfalls on record when it made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on October 28, bringing extensive damage to Jamaica, Hispaniola and eastern Cuba. Melissa was the fourth storm to undergo rapid intensification this year, with a 115-mph wind increase and a 90 millibar decrease in central pressure in a 72-hour period ending at 11 a.m. EDT on October 28.
As evidenced last year, our weather conditions have turned into a free for all. One does no longer know what to expect any more and what short and long-term impacts will this have on our commercial fisheries?
Across The Pond, in Ireland, harvesters have calculated that climate change-induced weather patterns are costing them up to 100 fishing days annually.
A report by the National Inshore Fishermen’s Association (NIFA) stated that prolonged storm seasons, increased Atlantic swells and unsafe operating conditions have affected the viability of inshore vessels.
NIFA added that for every one inshore fishing job, an estimated seven jobs are supported onshore, with total employment of 7,200 people in remote coastal areas.
Perhaps fishermen here should start calculating how many lost fishing days they have had due to weather over the last few years. Chances are it would be a larger number than most realize and one that is increasing year after year.
The only consistent out of all of this is the inconsistency of storms and harsh weather and it only looks like it is going to get even worse.
Canada just endured its second worst wildfire season on record in 2025, behind only the 2023 season and marking a third consecutive active fire season. Preliminary results suggest fires consumed an area about the size of mainland Portugal, or 89,221 square kilometres. Canada spent much of this wildfire season at its highest alert level. Thousands of people had to flee their homes and international firefighters were flown in to help.
This past year was also the third warmest on record and stood on the cusp of surpassing a major climate threshold globally.
Fishermen have always had to endure the harsh weather off our shores, but the trend now is so unpredictable, the industry might soon have to take a pause and reflect what these new climatic realities are going to look like.
