On this very night, three years ago, I was out and about trying to capture lightning, something I always do during any thunderstorm event.
It wasn’t anything out of the normal to chase storms. After covering an apartment fire in the afternoon in Wolfville, I spent the majority of my day on July 21st, 2023, chasing thunderstorms across the region.
It wasn’t until midnight struck, flooding water heavily impacted West Hants.
Throughout the day of July 21st flooding conditions also affected areas in HRM and the South Shore.
For those in Kings County, nothing really changed, no significant rain, no severe flooding, it was almost like a normal summers night, for residents in West Hants, this was a different story.
When you crested the Avonport mountain heading into Lockhartville, motorists felt like they hit a brick wall of rain.
Never in my years of photography and storm chasing, would I have anticipated the weather events from this very evening to become what it did through the overnight hours.
These photos and these hours leading up, are something myself and many others live with each day.
With the weather statements issued today and forecasted for tomorrow, it really gives many, who lived through these days, some severe anxiety.
Please watch the weather, take them seriously, stay alert and stay away from flooding waters.
To prepare, people should:
Download the Nova Scotia Emergency Alert app and ensure it is properly set up: https://novascotia.ca/nova-scotia-emergency-alert-app/
Follow the Department of Emergency Management on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NSEmergency/ and X at https://x.com/NSEmergency
Have a go-bag ready for every member of the family:
https://emergencyinfo.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Go-bag%20ENG_Fact%20Sheet.pdf
Ensure an emergency kit is fully stocked and in a location that is accessible:
https://emergencyinfo.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/emergency-kit-checklist-en.pdf
Photos attached are from West Hants during the evening of July 21st, 2023.
Adrian J.
