Hurricanes in Canada: How often they hit and who is at risk

As residents in Houston continue to feel the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey, another storm could be brewing and heading to Atlantic Canada.

Harvey, which made landfall late Friday as a Category 4 hurricane and dropped heavy rain as a tropical storm, sent destructive floods into Houston and forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

A power generator tips in in front of a Texas hospital as Hurricane Harvey hits Friday.

Courtney Sacco /Corpus Christi Caller-Times via AP

Houston Police SWAT officer Daryl Hudeck carries Catherine Pham and her 13-month-old son Aiden after rescuing them from their home surrounded by floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey Sunday.

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

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The storm has not had a significant impact on Canada, but Halifax meteorologist Jim Murtha said the system currently developing in southern U.S. could bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to parts of Atlantic Canada mid-next week or beyond.

If the storm forms and unfolds with tropical characteristics, he said the next name on the list is Irma.

READ MORE: Harvey likely to have little impact on Canada – but the next storm might

Canadian cities and towns aren’t hit as hard as places in the United States, but hurricanes and tropical storms can have a significant impact on the country, especially on the east coast.

In fact, the Canadian Hurricane Centre was created in 1987 after it became clear that Canadians needed an expert source for information that was focused specifically on how tropical cyclones affect Canada. Before the creation of the centre, Canadians relied largely on forecasts from the U.S. for hurricane information.

WATCH: Hurricane Harvey’s impact felt by Albertans

What exactly are hurricanes?

Hurricanes are made up of masses of warm, humid tropical air with high winds exceeding 118 km/h and torrential rains. When a hurricane reaches land, it pushes a wall of ocean water ashore, which is called a storm surge, according to NASA. Heavy rain and storm surge from a hurricane can cause flooding.

READ MORE: Katrina, Sandy, and now Harvey: Here’s how hurricanes get their names

The storms have a life span of one to 30 days and occur most often during August and September though the season runs from June to November, according to the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction.

Sometimes these powerful storms — or their remnants — remain strong enough as they track up the Atlantic coast from the Caribbean to reach parts of eastern Canada.

Canadian regions more affected?

Atlantic Canada is most at risk for hurricanes and tropical storms, according to Global News’ chief meteorologist, Anthony Farnell.

“Especially Nova Scotia,” he said. “On average they get one hurricane every three years in Atlantic Canada.”

WATCH: Rising global temperatures could increase intensity of Atlantic Canada hurricanes

However, areas of central Canada, like Ontario and Quebec, can be affected by gusty winds and torrential rain when hurricanes move across the U.S., Farnell said. But many of these storms typically lose strength as they move over land.

For example, in 2011 the post-tropical storm Irene, had a significant and deadly impact on Quebec. The storm brought a massive rain shield which extended from Kingston, Ont., to Halifax, N.S., and from New Jersey to Newfoundland and Labrador.

At its worst, Irene’s winds topped 113 km/h east of Quebec City and rainfall amounts approached 170 millimetres in just a few hours. It caused basements to flood, roads to collapse and triggered landslides — even killing a Montreal motorist.

British Columbia has very rare encounters with Pacific hurricanes.

How big are hurricanes in Canada?

According to Environment Canada, a hurricane stronger than Category 3 (Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5) is virtually impossible in Canada because the country’s water temperatures – even when they are warm – are simply too cold to support such a storm.