Hurricane Bill countdown begins for Canadians

The first effects of Bill are expected to be felt along Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast on Saturday.

Rough surf and hazardous rip currents are expected along some beaches, as swell heights approach two metres. Breaking wave heights could exceed three metres.

SHOOT: So be careful, people.

clipped from www.cbc.ca Hurricane Bill will likely blow into Atlantic Canada's waters on Sunday as a Category 2 storm, bringing 150-kilometre-an-hour winds and heavy rain, the Canadian Hurricane Centre said Friday afternoon. But forecasters said it's too early to be precise or issue any warnings. As of 3 p.m. AT Friday, Bill was a Category 2 storm about 467 kilometres south of Bermuda with sustained winds of 177 km/h. It was moving northwest at about 30 km/h. "All indications now are that we're probably looking at a rain event for those that get the hardest-hit rainfall amounts on the order of 100 to 150 millimetres. That could, depending on the track, be anywhere from southern New Brunswick all the way over to Newfoundland," he said. For people out at sea Sunday, he added, it's going to be "a very harsh environment." "One thing about a hurricane is you have to be prepared and ready — get all your stuff out of your yard, make sure everyone's secure," said Isaac.