HALIFAX - As the effects of Hurricane Dorian are being felt along the U.S. southeast coast, Canadian forecasters say the storm system is expected to severely impact parts of the Atlantic provinces this weekend.
The Canadian Hurricane Centre says the most likely track projection brings Dorian south of the Maritimes on Saturday, pushing through eastern Nova Scotia late in the day.
The forecast calls for severe winds and rainfall to have major impacts for southeastern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, western Newfoundland and Quebec's Lower North Shore, with a chance of a storm surge that may affect parts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
Most regions will experience some tropical storm force winds, with wind speeds that could reach hurricane force to the south of the forecast track and the possibility of hurricane force northwesterly winds behind the storm.
A Category 1 hurricane produces sustained wind speeds above 119 kilometres per hour. Tropical storm force winds exceed 63 kilometres per hour.
Forecasters are warning of potential tree damage in particular, which could lead to power outages.
Rainfall is expected to be significant, with the highest amounts likely for Nova Scotia and the Gulf of St. Lawrence region, with the possibility of as much as 100 millimetres to the north and west of Dorian.