Noel turned from tropical storm to hurricane and battered the Caribbean leaving at least 116 people dead in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Its next destination, or better said its target, will be Nova Scotia where it will make its presence felt over the weekend and although it doesn’t bear the characteristics of a tropical cyclone, it has still packed some powerful winds on its way.

The floods caused by the Category 1 hurricane obstructed the rescue of several trapped people in the Dominican Republic, where there were reported at least 73 dead and 27 missing.

Authorities were on high alert and used helicopters to deliver emergency supplies to areas which suddenly became remote because of the floodwaters.

Several bridges were washed away by the powerful torrents, 664 homes were wrecked and a further 15,600 were damaged, the state officials estimated.

In Haiti, the situation wasn’t any better and the death toll reached 43 on Friday. There were 15 people reported as missing. Approximately 4,850 houses were damaged and 1,075 completely destroyed.

Noel sustained winds of about 80 mph with its center about 425 miles south of Cape Hatteras, N.C., the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The hurricane is on its way to the north-northeast at about 17 mph and is expected to pick up speed.

According to Jack Beven, a hurricane specialist at the U.S. National Hurricane Center, the centre of the cyclone won’t cross the U.S. coast. After its forecasted track, Noel’s centre will reach Nova Scotia. The hurricane "is going to increase rather significantly in size," Beven added, and its effects will most likely be felt in the U.S.

According to the latest weather forecast, some 2 to 4 inches of rain could fall in North Carolina's Outer Banks, while isolated areas of New England might see 6 inches.