A post-tropical storm is battering New England with damaging winds and power outages as the peak of the storm’s worst weather approaches
Maine begins to feel Lee’s effects Saturday morning
New England is beginning to feel the effects of post-tropical Hurricane Lee, as it is expected to feel the worst of the rain, winds and coastal flooding on Saturday.
Bar Harbor, Maine – Post-Tropical Cyclone Lee is just hours away from making landfall in the Canadian Navy as the sprawling storm returns to New England, threatening near hurricane-force winds, pounding waves and heavy rainfall.
While Lee’s name has changed from “hurricane” to “post-tropical cyclone,” the difference between the ones in New England is only in the title.
What is the difference between a tropical storm and a subtropical storm?
“Most of you in New England… this (name change) is purely academic. It doesn’t change how we’re going to feel,” FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin said. “Even though this is no longer a tropical cyclone, it still has the strength of a Category 1 hurricane — winds are still 80 mph.”
The Fox Forecast Center said the storm now derives its strength from traditional atmospheric clashes between warm and cold air, and no longer derives energy from warm waters below like hurricanes and tropical storms.
Hurricane Lee live tracker: forecast path, watches, warnings, power outages, wind gusts and more
The National Weather Service in Caribou, Maine, said clouds of mammatus outside its office Saturday morning were an ominous sign of things to come today. (NWS Caribou Weather/X/FOX)
Conditions began to deteriorate late Friday evening and will be at their worst Saturday morning through Saturday afternoon. The governors of Massachusetts and Maine declared states of emergency before the storm and activated National Guard members to prepare for the required response.
Strong winds blow at Chatham Lighthouse as Lee tracks the East Coast of the United States
The approach of Hurricane Lee brought strong winds and high waves to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on Friday, ahead of the storm’s impact later in the weekend.
As the storm makes its journey, winds of up to 50-60 mph will likely gust along the immediate coastlines of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, causing power outages and downed trees as trees are still full of foliage. Wellfleet along the Cape Cod coast was hit by a 65 mph gust early Saturday morning. Wind speeds inland from the coast are expected to reach 40-50 mph.
Track the timeline of Hurricane Lee: When and where to expect impacts in New England, Maine
Wellfleet, Massachusetts, along the coast of Cape Cod, was hit by a 65 mph gust early Saturday morning. (Fox Weather)
Storm surge of 1-3 feet is expected with lees along the coasts
Rising waters from a combination of storm surge and tides will flood dry areas near the coast. The Cape Cod and New England coasts are expected to see 1-3 feet, while Long Island may see 1-2 feet.
According to the NHC, the most significant flooding will occur along the immediate coast, where the flow will be accompanied by large, damaging waves that may reach 10-18 feet or higher, depending on its proximity to the storm, and Downeast Maine is expected to receive the hurricane. The highest waves.
The strongest onshore winds are now expected to occur before high tide, which should limit any threat of coastal flooding. However, minor flooding is expected during high tide around midday Saturday.
Power outages across New England topped 8,000 as of Saturday morning, but we still have several hours before conditions occur that will bring down trees and power lines.
‘State of Emergency’: People from New England to Canada prepare for Hurricane Lee
Huge breaking waves will cause beach erosion and minor inundation along the immediate coast.
“It’s hard to know in Maine,” said Logan McDonald, a resident of Portland, Maine. “You can never be sure what you’re going to get here.” “It seems like the weather changes every five minutes, but with the storms, you gotta go out and get ready and buy all the necessities. Some candles, you know and hope for the best.”
Wind gusts of more than 100 mph are expected at the top of New England Mountain as Hurricane Lee blows past the area
Gusty winds hit Bar Harbor, Maine as Hurricane Lee approaches
An American flag flutters in strong breezes as some of the outer bands of Hurricane Lee move ashore in Bar Harbor, Maine, early Saturday morning.
The storm will not produce significant rain due to its expected track and rapid movement, but some places along the coast in Maine could receive 3 to 5 inches of rain over the weekend.
Conditions will improve quickly later Saturday into Sunday from south to north as Lee begins to accelerate and move to the northeast across the Canadian offshore lines.
