Hurricane watches for parts of the Maritimes as Lee threatens wind, surf
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A large swath of the Maritimes are under hurricane and tropical storm watches on Thursday as large Hurricane Lee steadily makes its way north over the western Atlantic. Warnings are likely by Thursday evening or Friday.
On its forecast track, the centre of Lee will pass west of Bermuda on Thursday, approach New England and Atlantic Canada on Friday and Saturday, and move across Atlantic Canada on Saturday night into Sunday.
As expected, Lee is expanding in size but has started to weaken as it pushes through cooler waters. While further weakening is expected, Lee is likely to remain a "large and dangerous hurricane into the weekend," says the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The footprint of Hurricane Lee’s tropical storm-force winds extended a whopping 500 km from the centre of the storm by Thursday afternoon, and its hurricane-force winds reached 150 km from the centre of the storm.
Hurricane watches in effect, with the Maritimes on high alert
The hurricane weakened to a Category 1 hurricane on Thursday afternoon, per the NHC's 2:00 p.m. EDT update, with maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h. It will continue to lose strength further as it tracks north towards Atlantic Canada.
Despite Lee’s maximum winds falling, the storm’s sprawling footprint is important for any communities in its path. Lower maximum winds does not mean a lower overall threat from this storm.
A threat for heavy rains, high winds, and coastal flooding will extend hundreds of kilometres from the centre of the storm. The biggest concerns will be dangerous surf and coastal flooding, especially during high tide.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Grand Manan and Coastal Charlotte County in New Brunswick and Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, and Queens Counties in Nova Scotia.
A Tropical Storm Watch is is effect for Saint John County, Fundy National Park, and Moncton and Southeast New Brunswick, as well as Annapolis, Kings, Lunenburg, and Hants Counties, Halifax Metro and Halifax County West, Cumberland County - Minas Shore, and Colchester County - Cobequid Bay in Nova Scotia.
Click here to stay up-to-date with the latest watches and warnings.
WATCH: Storm anxiety high among Nova Scotians after a harsh year
Strongest impacts expected Saturday
The Canadian Hurricane Centre (CHC) says this will be a Saturday event for the strongest impacts, with lingering weaker conditions expected on Sunday across the Maritimes.
The CHC expects Lee's circulation to broaden significantly as it moves north across the East Coast. On Saturday, Lee is expected to gradually weaken just below hurricane strength as it approaches the Gulf of Maine later in the day.
"While the centre of Lee could make landfall anywhere from Downeast Maine to western Nova Scotia as a strong tropical storm or post-tropical low late Saturday night or early Sunday, it is still expected to be a large and powerful system with impacts extending well away from the storm centre," the CHC warns.
Saturday morning, the outer rain bands will move in, with tropical wind gusts extending hundreds of kilometres away from the eye of the storm.
Between 60-100 mm of rain is possible in the southern Maritimes over the weekend. Localized flooding is likely, especially since the ground will be near saturation before the storm begins as tropical moisture fills in.
WATCH: Hurricane Lee prep is underway for Maritimes residents
At the same time, winds will pick up late Friday and will peak on Saturday, with gusts of 70-100 km/h expected. Winds will ease for Sunday, but will still be gusty. The strongest winds can be expected along coastal sections while quickly decreasing inland. Areas under the hurricane watch will likely see the strongest winds, with gusts as high as 120 km/h possible at times.
The greatest threats are the waves and surge immediately along the coast. Waves of upwards to 6-7 metres are possible out to sea. The greatest impacts will be the southwest shores of Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy shores.
Folks across the region are understandably weary about tropical systems after the impacts of Dorian in 2019 and Fiona in 2022.
It’s likely that Hurricane Lee will not be as strong as either of those two systems. However, residents do need to stay on high alert for flooding, power outages, tree damage and coastal flooding.
Stay prepared
We’re now in the climatological peak of hurricane season across the Atlantic basin. Anyone along or near the East Coast should prepare for hazards like power outages and flooding regardless of this one storm’s progress.
Ensure you’ve got non-perishable food, water, personal hygiene supplies, flashlights, and batteries to last for several days without electricity or water. Prepare an emergency plan in case of flooding or evacuations.
As we continue to monitor #HurricaneLee's path, Nova Scotians have time to prepare an emergency kit before bad weather arrives. pic.twitter.com/n5FdPfdXki
As we continue to monitor Nova Scotia EMO on Twitter: "As we continue to monitor #HurricaneLee's path, Nova Scotians have time to prepare an emergency kit before bad weather arrives. pic.twitter.com/n5FdPfdXki / Twitter"'s path, Nova Scotians have time to prepare an emergency kit before bad weather arrives. Nova Scotia EMO on Twitter: "As we continue to monitor #HurricaneLee's path, Nova Scotians have time to prepare an emergency kit before bad weather arrives. pic.twitter.com/n5FdPfdXki / Twitter"
— Nova Scotia EMO (@nsemo) Nova Scotia EMO on Twitter: "As we continue to monitor #HurricaneLee's path, Nova Scotians have time to prepare an emergency kit before bad weather arrives. pic.twitter.com/n5FdPfdXki / Twitter"
STAY SAFE: What you need in your hurricane preparedness kit
Anxiety is normal when there’s a big storm out there, and even more so when the storm’s future is uncertain. Preparing for a storm long before one arrives ensures you’ll be ready to go if anything looms on the horizon in the weeks and months ahead.
Stay with The Weather Network for the duration of this storm as we closely monitor this hurricane and its developments.
