On This Date In 1873

1873 August 23-24-25

The Great Nova Scotia Cyclone

The Great Nova Scotia Cyclone, August 1873:

This catastrophic hurricane claimed about 500 lives as it swept across Cape Breton Island on Canada's east coast. The storm also claimed 1,200 vessels, 900 buildings and numerous bridges before dying out. But the destructive nature of the storm helped change the way weather was monitored in Canada. Toronto had tried to warn Halifax but the telegraph service was interrupted due to the storm. From 1871 to 1879, Washington, DC transmitted storm warnings to Toronto. The weather bulletins were sent by telegraph to the areas in danger. The devastating effects of the hurricane motivated politicians to implement a better storm warning system, which was later put into use in the Maritimes.