Halifax residents warned to avoid shorelines during Lee. Some didn’t listen

Despite the harsh winds and rain brought by Post-Tropical Cyclone Lee on Saturday, dozens of people gathered at Peggy’s Cove to watch waves rise several meters and crash onto the shore near the famous lighthouse.

A security guard was on hand at the lighthouse site Saturday morning to escort people away from potentially dangerous areas near the water. as the waves continued to crash.

Earlier today, the Halifax Regional Municipality released a statement saying Peggy’s Cove has since been closed to the public.

“Residents are advised to avoid coastal areas as they pose an extreme risk, particularly during peak tides,” the statement said.

In addition to Peggy’s Cove, the east coast and waterfront areas of Bedford, Halifax and Dartmouth have all been listed as areas of high concern.

Even though the waves continued to crash and make their way onto the shore, not everyone decided to err on the side of caution. — as dozens of people headed to the Halifax waterfront to get a first-hand look at the storm’s impact.

One man decided to go even further by popping into the harbor in a full swimsuit.

At a news conference Saturday afternoon, Halifax Mayor Mike Savage stepped up calls to avoid the coast and urged residents to stay away from the coast.

“Now is not the time to watch the waves,” he said, adding that seawater, downed trees and power lines have blocked several roads in the Halifax area.

“Stay clear of waters…for your own safety and that of first responders who may be called for help.” I cannot stress this point enough.

Savage said he saw images of people crowding around the Halifax waterfront to watch the waves crash and described the activity as “unnecessary and dangerous.”

Stephen Kiley, who lives in Shad Bay, said he was watching a family in the Prospect Bay area when he decided to take a trip to the shore.

“It’s normal, we have everything here… we are as far away as possible,” he said, adding that he was about to leave as police advised him to leave the area.

In an RCMP statement on social media, police said they had received reports of people heading to shore to watch the waves and advised motorists to stay off the roads.

“This action puts them and first responders in danger in the event of rescue attempts,” police said.

As of midday Saturday, Lee was about 90 kilometers southwest of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and the center of the storm was poised to arrive later in the afternoon, Environment Canada said in a update. Its impact is likely to be felt within a radius of several hundred kilometers.

— With files from Rebecca Lau and Callum Smith of PKBNEWS

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