ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Power was out in several communities in eastern Newfoundland, flights were being cancelled and at least one residential area was evacuated as the province braces for tropical storm Leslie.

Newfoundland Power cited severe weather conditions on its site as it listed a concentrated range of communities, including Bauline, Witless Bay, Bay Bulls and Placentia, where electricity was down.

Rain, winds and wind gusts were gaining strength in St. John’s early today, as the centre of the storm was expected to land at around 9 a.m. near the Burin Peninsula.

The west coast of the province was also due for heavy rains, with upwards of 150 millimetres of rain expected in some regions and there were reports one area of Badger had been evacuated.

The Canadian Hurricane Centre said Leslie was expected to barrel ashore in Newfoundland as a “very strong post-tropical storm” with soaking rain and potentially damaging winds.

In its bulletin issued at 6 a.m. AT, the centre said Leslie was about 400 kilometres southwest of Argentia, N.L., and moving north-northeast at about 65 kilometres an hour with near hurricane force winds of about 110 kilometres an hour.