The Canadian Hurricane Centre says Hurricane Dorian is expected to spin into Atlantic Canada this weekend as either a Category 1 hurricane or a strong tropical storm, churning out sustained winds up to 130 kilometres an hour.
“It’s probably going to be a big deal,” Environment Canada meteorologist Ian Hubbard said.
“It’s going to be a very significant wind event. We’re a few days away from it, so we still have to work on the details.”
Mr. Hubbard, who works at the hurricane centre in Halifax, said the storm is forecast to track along the U.S. eastern seaboard to North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras on Friday and move near Nova Scotia on Saturday, then on to Newfoundland on Sunday.
A Category 1 hurricane produces sustained wind speeds at 119 km an hour or above, reaching Category 2 at 154 km an hour.
According to the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, Category 1 hurricanes can break large tree limbs, pull off shingles and vinyl siding and topple trees with shallow roots. That means widespread power outages are a key concern for emergency planners.
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