Irma not expected to reach N.L., says Canadian Hurricane Centre - Action News
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Irma not expected to reach N.L., says Canadian Hurricane Centre

While all forecasts for Hurricane Irma predict devastation in the Atlantic, none of the models show the storm reaching Canada's most eastern province.

Storm expected to peter out in Southern Ontario, Quebec or Maine

Hurricane Irma, a record Category 5 storm, is seen in this NOAA National Weather Service National Hurricane Center. (NOAA/NWS/NHC/Reuters)

While all forecasts for Hurricane Irma predict devastation in the Atlantic, none of the models show the storm reaching Canada's most eastern province.

There are three forecastsfor the storm, according to Jim Murtha of the Canadian Hurricane Centre, and all three show it tapering off in southern parts of Ontario, Quebec or Maine.

It is still early, however, and the centre will be tracking the storm closely in the coming days.

"It will be a busy week," Murtha told theSt. John's Morning Show.

Storm makes landfall on Wednesday

The storm began ravaging islands in theCaribbeanon Wednesday, withwinds reaching 295 kilometres an hour as it crossed the island of Barbuda and headed towards St.Maarten.

Hurricane warnings have been issued in Puerto Rico andDominican Republic, with many more regions to join that list throughout the day.

In the first forecasted model, Murtha said the storm could move north after it hits Florida on Sunday and loses its tropical characteristics by midweek around West Virginia. Moisture could go as far north as Southern Ontario.

In the second scenario, it still moves north after Florida, but maintains a defined low pressure centre and travels into New England. This would bring rainfall into southern Ontario and southern Quebec.

The third scenario shows the storm moving back out over the Atlantic andup the coast with moisture reaching as far as Maine.

The National Hurricane Center shows the predicted travel path for Hurricane Irma as of Tuesday afternoon. (National Hurricane Center)

With files from St. John's Morning Show