Arthur now Category 2 hurricane; Atlantic Canada braces for storm

CTV Atlantic: Premier Alward on N.B. storm damage Kayla Hounsell speaks live with N.B. premier David Alward about damage N.B. after the tropical storm and what the plans are for cleanup.

Hurricane Arthur has become a Category 2 hurricane as it skirts the U.S. East Coast, while residents in Atlantic Canada brace for heavy rainfall and destructive winds this weekend.

The U.S. National Hurricane Centre said Arthur, the first hurricane of the season, became a Category 2 hurricane around 9 p.m. ET Thursday.

Hurricane warnings are in effect for parts of North Carolina, while Environment Canada has issued a tropical storm watch for the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia.

The national weather agency said in a statement issued Thursday night that Arthur is expected to move north along the U.S. East Coast and could make landfall in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick Saturday morning.

"It is very likely that high wind and heavy rain will affect the Maritimes on Saturday," Environment Canada said in a weather alert statement.

The agency said “significant winds” exceeding 100 km/h are possible in the Maritimes over the weekend, but it’s difficult to say which regions will be most affected.

Rainfall amounts of between 50 to 100 millimetres are also likely, especially in New Brunswick and P.E.I.

Chris Fogarty of the Canadian Hurricane Centre said heavy rainfall is the biggest concern for forecasters in Atlantic provinces. High winds are most likely in Nova Scotia, he said.

“These storms when they move fast, they can have an additive wind effect,” Fogarty told CTV News Channel Thursday.

He also said Maritime residents should prepare for the possibility of power outages.

Fogarty said as Arthur moves north, the size of the storm will grow, but the winds will weaken.

By the time it hits Atlantic Canada, he said the hurricane will likely be downgraded to a post-tropical storm.

Meanwhile, emergency officials in New Brunswick are warning residents to stay away from the coast.

"People like to have a look to see how nature behaves," Saint John Fire Department Chief Kevin Clifford told CTV Atlantic on Thursday. "But if you get too close, sometimes it has dire consequences."

The effects of the hurricane are already being felt south of the border.

Boston's Fourth of July celebrations are taking place a day early.

In North Carolina's coastal areas, Mandatory evacuations are now in effect for North Carolina’s coastal areas, in the midst of one of the busiest travel weeks ahead of the U.S. Independence Day holiday weekend.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory urged residents Thursday to heed the warnings and stay out of the storm’s path.

“I’ve mentioned this before to citizens – don’t put your stupid hat on,” he said at a news conference.