Hurricane Lee Pushes North: In addition to bringing rain to the coasts of Massachusetts and Maine on Saturday, Hurricane Lee poses a threat of bringing damaging gusts to portions of the southeastern United States and Atlantic Canada.
Potential coastal inundation and tropical-storm-force winds in coastal New England, particularly Maine, where a state of emergency has been declared, are the most significant effects on the United States. A hurricane watch is in effect for the southern coasts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Canada.
Lee is a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph as of early Saturday morning, when its centre was located 215 miles east of Nantucket, Massachusetts, according to a 2 a.m. ET advisory from the National Hurricane Centre. Lee, which is moving north at 22 mph, is not forecast to make landfall in the United States.
Despite being hundreds of miles away from the U.S. East Coast, tropical storm conditions were pounding the coasts of Massachusetts and Nova Scotia early Saturday morning, with similar impacts anticipated for Maine, according to forecasters from the National Hurricane Centre.
“These conditions are likely to lead to downed trees and potential power outages,” the hurricane centre warned.
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Hurricane Lee Pushes North
Hurricane-force winds extended up to 115 miles from the centre of Lee, while tropical storm-force winds extended up to 345 miles.
In addition to ferocious winds, Lee could bring up to 6 inches of rain to northernmost Maine on Saturday, with New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island also at risk of receiving significant precipitation. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey proclaimed a state of emergency Friday due to the storm.
There are tropical storm warnings for the coastlines of Massachusetts and Maine, including the popular island destinations of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket off the coast of Massachusetts. The advisory is extended farther north into Canada.
If Lee’s storm surge coincides with high tide along the coast from the Long Island Sound to Maine, flooding of 1 to 3 feet above ground level is conceivable, according to Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Centre.
Lee is anticipated to continue approaching the coasts of New England and Atlantic Canada throughout Saturday. “Lee is expected to then turn towards the north-northeast and northeast and move across Atlantic Canada on Saturday night and Sunday,” according to the hurricane centre.
Canadians and Americans along the coast are urged to remain indoors.
The deputy director of the National Hurricane Centre, Jamie Rhome, advised people to avoid driving near the coast and to remain inside during the storm. He also mentioned that there is a significant risk of rip currents from southern Florida to Maine, a distance of thousands of miles.
“The waves from this large hurricane generate a current that flows out to sea and will pull you out,” Rhome said in a brief video update released Friday evening. Therefore, if you are going to the beach this weekend, you should swim close a lifeguard.
In anticipation of these dangerous waves, local officials in Toms River, New Jersey, prohibited swimming at Ortley Beach this weekend, according to a municipal news release. Offenders may be issued tickets.
“Lifeguards will be on duty from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday to enforce the Red Flag swimming prohibition. The shore itself will be accessible, according to a news release issued on Friday.
Officials in New Brunswick, Canada, warned residents to prepare for power disruptions and stock up on food and medication for at least 72 hours, while urging them to remain indoors.
Kyle Leavitt, director of the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organisation, advised, “Once the storm begins, please remain at home if at all possible.” “Nothing positive can result from observing the large waves and atmospheric force. Not only are you endangering yourself, but you are also endangering the lives of emergency personnel who may need to assist you.”
