Arthur strengthens to hurricane, will bring wet weather to Atlantic Canada

This Wednesday, July 2, 2014, satellite image released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Tropical Storm Arthur moving north off the east coast of Florida. The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season prompted a hurricane warning for a wide swath of the North Carolina coast. Photo: AP Photo/NOAA

HALIFAX — Forecasters say the season’s first hurricane is expected to bring significant rain and wind to Atlantic Canada on Saturday, although it’s too early to tell which areas will be hit the hardest.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Arthur became a hurricane today, with maximum sustained winds of about 120 kilometres an hour.

Canadian forecasters say a trough of low pressure will move eastward from the Great Lakes and guide the storm toward Atlantic Canada.

The Canadian Hurricane Centre says the nature of the trough will affect Arthur’s intensity and track as it moves north.

The centre says the storm’s projected track has been moved slightly to the west.

It says significant rain and wind is possible for the Atlantic provinces, but it’s too early to make rainfall and wind speed predictions.