Hurricane Maria barrels through eastern N.L.

Many people hunkered down at home Friday as southeastern Newfoundland was drenched by hurricane Maria’s driving sideways rain and howling gales.

Schools were closed and the city’s harbour was shrouded in pea soup mist as a lonesome fog horn blasted regularly through the roaring wind.

Chris Fogarty, a meteorologist at the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Halifax, said the Category 1 storm was expected to affect an area stretching from Placentia Bay to Cape Race, at the southeastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula.

A hurricane warning was issued for the southern Avalon, where Maria could produce peak gusts hitting 140 km/h in open areas, Fogarty said.

In St. John’s, a three-hour drive north of Cape Race, residents were warned to brace for 120 km/h blasts.

“In our bulletins … we discussed the possibility of some trees being blown down, large branches and utility lines coming down,” Fogarty told a news conference. “If the storm tracks exactly as we predict, we certainly can expect some damaging winds.”

Gary Ryan was quickly swallowed by fog and pelting rain as he rode a unicycle down an almost deserted Signal Hill in St. John’s.

Asked if Newfoundland’s weather blow-ups ever scare him, the native of Trinity, N.L., laughed and said: “No, to be honest. Maybe they’re supposed to, but they certainly don’t.

“And I’m careful as well. I’ve been at it for awhile so I don’t take any unnecessary risks by any means.”

Ahead of the storm, flags in downtown St. John’s snapped Friday morning as the wind bent trees and rain swept the streets. People also picked up emergency supplies of food and water.

Fogarty said the latest forecast was calling for less rain than originally expected. Earlier, the centre said Maria would deliver up to 90 millimetres of rain in some areas, but that figure was dropped to 50 mm.

The storm is moving so quickly — up to 90 km/h as it moved past Sable Island — that it simply won’t have enough time to dump that much rain, Fogarty said.

The hurricane centre has issued warnings about Maria for days, but forecasters said they had difficulty predicting its track and intensity because of the influence of two other low pressure systems.

The hurricane warning wasn’t issued until late Thursday.

“Earlier on, we were expecting an offshore track,” said Fogarty. “We weren’t thinking the wind threat would be too big a concern two days ago. … Yesterday, we realized that the storm would definitely merge with the larger low.”

Still, the mayor of St. John’s, Dennis O’Keefe, said the city is ready for the worst.

“We are as prepared as we humanly can be,” he said in an interview.

For residents of St. John’s, the city’s perch on the North Atlantic means they are accustomed to fierce storms.

“The weather is so unpredictable here,” said John Rose, a contractor who lives in St. John’s. “We’ve had days where during the winter … they were anticipating small amounts of snow and high winds and (it) turned into a full-blown blizzard.

“It’s so unpredictable here there’s no real way to gauge it. Just prepare for it.”

Wayne McGrath wasn’t taking any chances as he leaned into intense gusts blowing in off the ocean while he toted groceries in downtown St. John’s.

“The wind today is very strong,” he said. “The winds are increasing and now I’m heading back home.”

Maria was expected to merge with a low pressure system east of Labrador, fuelling powerful gales through the entire province lasting into Saturday.

The storm comes a year after hurricane Igor tore through eastern Newfoundland last September as a Category 1 hurricane, with wind gusts of 140 km/h and more than 200 millimetres of rain in some areas. One man died as Igor washed out roads, swept away bridges and caused nearly $200 million in damage to almost 200 communities.

Fogarty said Maria isn’t much of a threat as far as flooding is concerned, but the storm’s powerful winds are expected to be almost as strong as Igor’s.

The province’s Fire and Emergency Services issued a statement saying residents should prepare for damaged buildings and power outages.

The service urged residents to follow local weather forecasts, ensure sump pumps are in working order, clear all storm drains and secure patio furniture, barbecues and yard tools.

As well, emergency officials said residents should prepare an emergency kit that will allow them to cope on their own for least 72 hours.

The storm wasn’t expected to have much impact on Newfoundland’s offshore oil platforms and vessels. Fogarty said Maria’s rapid forward speed would prevent her from churning up the waves beyond six metres on the Grand Banks.

Coastal Labrador will likely see the strongest winds and large waves on Saturday.