Overnight Tropical Storm Earl changed direction slightly to the east and is now headed for the Western Shore of Nova Scotia at 48 km/h with wind speeds of 112 km/h

Maritimers woke up to a strange calm with cloudy skys. Winds of 91 km/h were starting in from Metaghan to Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Rain was heavy in Maine and starting in Western New Brunswick and the southern area near St. Stephen. Where was Tropical Storm Earl?

While picking up speed overnight to 48 km/h (30 mph) it had veered off its original course up the Bay of Fundy was now moving over the continental shelf. At 6 AM it was 219 miles (350 km) from Portland Maine and 156 miles (233 Km) from Yarmouth. It was moving on a path to pass directly over Truro, Nova Scotia at 3 PM and then eastern Prince Edward Island. However, no one including Environment Canada was sure. “We’re not exactly sure,” said Doug Mercer, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. CBC

Prince Edward Island will be hit from Central Queens to all of Kings County with the eye projected to pass over Montague. No one predicted that yesterday.

Perhaps the Acadians in Evangeline knew something when they kept to their schedule for L’Exposition agricole et Le Festival acadien de La Région Évangéline being held today in Abrams Village. They may be spared the worst of the storm

Earl Saturday morning 6 AM Earl moves to the East

Damage in New England light

Earl treated Cape Cod and other coastal areas of Massachusetts lightly. “Officials planned to survey the damage from the storm at daybreak, but early reports showed only a few hundred power outages, a handful of downed power lines and isolated flooding in Massachusetts. Officials had warned New England residents against complacency, but many in Chatham, a fishing village at Cape Cod’s eastern edge, didn’t seem worried. Tourists strolled past the bookstores, cafes and ice cream parlors on Main Street, where a few stores had put plywood over their windows, including the Ben Franklin Old Fashioned Variety Store.  Forbes

Maritimes forecast

Environment Canada’s 4:52 AM forecast was detailed but uncertain exactly where Earl would hit the Maritimes the hardest.

At 5:00 AM ADT the centre of hurricane Earl was located about 180 kilometres southwest of Yarmouth and is moving northeast at 44 km/h. On its current track Earl is forecast to make landfall near Western Nova Scotia this morning.

It is likely that portions of southern and Western Nova Scotia will have wind gusts reaching or exceeding 100 km/h….Possibly reaching 130 km/h. Wind gusts reaching 90 km/h or higher are possible elsewhere over the above regions. These strong wind gusts could cause tree branches and limbs to break and some trees to come down. That could result in downed utility lines and related power failures. There could also be some damage to signage..Roofing materials and building cladding.

Heavy rain…Amounting to 40 to 70 millimetres will likely fall over portions of the Maritimes today as Earl tracks across the region….With southern and Central New Brunswick, Western Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island being the most likely areas to receive these amounts. Over many areas of the Maritimes very heavy downpours are likely…With 25 millimetres or more possible in one hour which could lead to localized flooding and road washouts.

High waves and pounding surf can be expected along south and southeast facing coastlines around portions of the Maritimes with the arrival of Earl. Wave impacts at the coast could lead to some beach erosion and damage to infrastructure.

Higher than normal water levels are possible along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia and over the gulf of st. Lawrence coastlines. However since the tides are low this weekend..The chances of severe storm surge is diminished.