Tropical storm warnings are in effect in New England as weather conditions are expected to begin to deteriorate Friday night as Hurricane Lee moves closer.
Boston could see sustained tropical storm-force winds overnight, and locals worry that the wind and heavy rain could break branches and down power lines, leaving thousands of people in the dark.
A state of emergency has been proactively declared in Maine as the state faces its worst hurricane threat in nearly 15 years.
“We are tracking the storm’s path and coordinating with federal and local partners to prepare for its arrival,” Gov. Janet Mills said in a statement. “We urge the people of Maine to act with caution and take common sense measures to ensure they have everything they need to stay safe as the storm approaches and the weekend approaches.”
The NHC says Lee will continue to weaken as it moves into a more volatile environment that includes wind shear, drier air and colder waters.
However, Lee’s enormous size and the expected increase in its forward speed suggest that the weakening process may be slow and that the storm will continue to grow in size as it continues to turn northward.
The hurricane is expected to become extratropical, meaning the storm would no longer need to draw its strength from warm waters.
The NHC says Lee will continue to weaken as it moves into a more volatile environment that includes wind shear, drier air and colder waters.
So for the millions of people living along the New England coast, from Connecticut to Maine, the potential impacts could look more like a winter nor’easter than a landfalling hurricane.
For coastal areas from Massachusetts to Maine, there is an increased risk of experiencing tropical storm force winds of 39 mph or greater.
Large waves of up to 10 to 20 feet will crash into the shoreline, creating a risk of beach erosion and coastal flooding.
So for the millions of people living along the New England coast, from Connecticut to Maine, the potential impacts could look more like a winter nor’easter than a hurricane making landfall.FOX Weather
Where is Hurricane Lee?
According to the latest NHC advisory, Hurricane Lee is located about 170 miles west of Bermuda and about 590 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Hurricane Lee is moving north at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.
Due to its proximity to Bermuda, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the island and tropical storm conditions are being observed across the British island territory.
The NHC says Hurricane Lee continues to weaken, but will remain a “large and dangerous hurricane” as it continues to move north.
For coastal areas from Massachusetts to Maine, there is an increased risk of experiencing tropical storm force winds of 39 mph or greater.FOX Weather
What is the expected path of Hurricane Lee?
Depending on the hurricane’s track, Maine and Canadian provinces are expected to experience the worst weather, but due to the width of the storm, impacts will be felt hundreds of kilometers from the center.
Coastal communities from Florida to Maine have already suffered the impacts of the hurricane in the form of rough seas and the Fernandina Beach Police Department in Florida said it found the body of a swimmer who was swept away by strong currents.
The heart of the hurricane was more than 700 miles away when the swimmer likely encountered a rip current and did not resurface while in the ocean along northeast Florida.
Depending on the hurricane’s track, Maine and Canadian provinces are expected to experience the worst weather, but due to the storm’s breadth, impacts will be felt hundreds of miles from the center.FOX Weather
What watches or warnings are in effect due to Hurricane Lee in the US?
Tropical storm and hurricane watches have been issued for millions of people from New England to Canada.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for all coastal cities from Westport, Massachusetts, to the US-Canada border.
Additionally, a hurricane watch is in effect for Downeast Maine.
In Canada, both a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning are in effect for hundreds of miles of coastline in the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
FOX Weather
A tropical storm warning is issued when tropical storm-force winds (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected within the storm warning area within 36 hours. These winds could be accompanied by storm surge, coastal flooding, and/or river flooding.
A tropical storm watch is issued when tropical storm-force winds are possible within the storm watch area, generally within 48 hours.
A hurricane watch is issued when hurricane-force winds (sustained winds of 74 mph or greater) are possible within the watch area, usually within 48 hours.
Strong wind gusts are also expected on Cape Cod from Barnstable to Provincetown.FOX Weather
What will be Lee’s impact on New England?
Hurricane Lee is expected to bring strong, possibly damaging gusts of wind to coastal regions of New England along with massive waves and heavy rain beginning Friday.
The Fox Forecast Center expects Lee’s wind field to extend about 560 miles wide, which would have far-reaching impacts across New England.
Winds could gust between 30 and 40 mph from the Boston area to Worcester and into northeastern Connecticut.
On the southern coast of Massachusetts, winds will be slightly stronger and could reach 40 to 50 mph Saturday morning.
Depending on the hurricane’s track, Maine and Canadian provinces are expected to experience the worst weather, but due to the storm’s breadth, impacts will be felt hundreds of miles from the center.FOX Weather
Strong gusts of wind are also expected on Cape Cod from Barnstable to Provincetown.
And in Maine, winds could reach 50 to 60 mph along the coast, including Rockland.
“This is not a ‘pack your stuff and get out’ (storm),” Merwin said. “This is a shelter, prepare to lose energy. “We’ll have really nasty conditions on Saturday and then we’ll wake up on Sunday and it’ll be a new day.”
Most of the heavy rain is expected to fall over Atlantic Canada, but depending on the track of Hurricane Lee, a few centimeters of rain could fall in New England.
Coastal regions from Massachusetts to Maine will see the highest rainfall totals, with Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and most of Maine seeing around 1 to 2 inches, with higher amounts along the coastal areas of eastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod.
Southeastern Maine could also see more, with totals forecast between 2 and 5 inches.
Most of the heavy rain is expected to fall over Atlantic Canada, but depending on the track of Hurricane Lee, a few centimeters of rain could fall in New England.ZUMAPRESS.com
Last week, Killingly, Connecticut and the rest of New England faced severe storms as the region braced for the arrival of Hurricane Lee.AP
People living in New England still have one day to prepare for any possible impacts and power outages Lee will have on the region before the weather begins to deteriorate on Friday.
“We can still see a 24-hour period where you may be without power, which means everything in your refrigerator is going to be ruined,” Merwin said. “Your food can’t last 24 hours without electricity in your refrigerator. “So, maybe buy a couple of things at the store over the next few days that I can eat and not have to worry about having them refrigerated.”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn