Tropical Storm Arthur expected to bring rain to Maritimes

Tropical Storm Arthur is speeding up the east coast, bringing heavy rainfall to the Maritimes for the weekend.

The tropical depression became a tropical storm Tuesday off the coast of Florida. Its heading north and north-east and will pass the Maritimes soon.

The rain for that in the Maritimes will start Saturday morning and we could see heavy rain during the day Saturday and into Saturday night, CBC meteorologist Peter Coade said Tuesday.

The weather will clear Sunday as the centre passes off the Cape Breton shore. New Brunswick and P.E.I. will likely see the storm, but Nova Scotia will be hit hardest.

Arthur is the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

A tropical storm means winds of 60 to 117 kilometres per hour.