Hurricane Maria has made landfall in eastern Newfoundland as a Category 1 hurricane.

Authorities say the storm is packing high winds and rain but there are no early reports of injuries or property damage.

Many Newfoundlanders were hunkering down at home in the Atlantic
Canadian province. Schools were closed.

Chris Fogarty, a meteorologist at the Canadian Hurricane Centre,
says Maria is expected to produce peak gusts of 87 mph (140 kph) in
open areas.

Fogarty says the latest forecast calls for 2 inches (50 millimeters) of rain in some areas.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)