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ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland (AP) Canada's east coast is bracing for the arrival of Tropical Storm Leslie, which is expected to make landfall Tuesday in Newfoundland, the Canadian Hurricane Centre said Monday.

The center said Leslie could make landfall as a hurricane or a strong tropical storm.

Forecaster Bob Robichaud said wind gusts could reach up to 49 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour) in the Cape Breton area and up to 62 mph (100 kph) over the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland.

Robichaud said Leslie is gaining strength as it moves over warm waters, but its massive size may prevent it from reaching hurricane status.

"If it was a smaller storm, there would most definitely be strengthening and we'd almost certainly have a hurricane at landfall," he said. "But given the size of the storm, it takes a lot more to spin it up."

Fire and Emergency Services said the department has been preparing for the storm by working to ensure culverts have been cleared and that any problem areas are being dealt with before Leslie arrives. The department said resources have been shored up to ensure crews are on the ready to deal with tomorrow's high winds and downpour.

Department spokeswoman Cheryl Gullage said citizens have been asked to ensure water pumps are in working order, that drains are free from debris and that window and door wells are clean. The department has also asked Newfoundlanders to remove dead tree branches from trees that could pose a hazard and ensure all patio furniture, barbeque equipment and yard tools are secured to avoid potential damage in high winds.

Gullage said evacuation orders have not yet been issued.

Marine Atlantic said it is cancelling ferries between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in preparation for Leslie.

Red Cross spokesman Dan Bedell said supplies and additional people have been taken to the Burin Peninsula, on the south coast of the island, which is where Hurricane Igor pounded Newfoundland as a Category 1 hurricane almost two years ago. Igor dumped 200 millimeters of rain and caused CA$200 million (US$204 million) in damages. Igor was also blamed for the death of one man.

"Our teams have gone through a similar experience for Igor and the current forecast for this storm is tracking in approximately the same area, but it has very wide effects this time so we're seeing flooding from one end of the province to the other. If that continues, we'll likely have to evacuate that area tomorrow," said Bedell.

The nasty weather hit Atlantic Canada before Leslie's anticipated arrival.

The hurricane center said a trough of low pressure had already dumped 100 millimeters of rain on parts of western and central Nova Scotia by Monday morning, with more yet to come as Leslie approaches.

Evacuation orders have already been issued for Truro, Nova Scotia, where sheets of heavy rain have swamped two rivers, leading to flooding and evacuations in Colchester County.

Bob Taylor, mayor of the Municipality of the County of Colchester, said dikes in both rivers gave way, flooding some roads in and out of Truro and the village of Bible Hill.

Taylor said some people have been asked to voluntarily leave their homes, but only a few have chosen to do so.

He said a high school near Salmon River was evacuated before lunchtime as a precaution.

The Mounties in Nova Scotia are warning drivers to slow down after receiving report of localized flooding on some roads.

Leslie was located about 366 miles (590 kilometers) northeast of Bermuda by mid-Monday morning.

Leslie's outer bands buffeted Bermuda on Sunday with gusty winds and rain that caused little damage. The Bermuda Police Service said there were no reports of any major damage or injuries.

Far out in the Atlantic, Hurricane Michael was forecast to weaken to a tropical storm by Tuesday.

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Associated Press writers Elizabeth Roberts in Hamilton, Bermuda, and Charmaine Noronha in Toronto contributed to this report.