Hurricane Lee nears mainstay in Atlantic, New England, warning for damaging winds, choppy surf
A tropical storm warning has been issued for Bermuda, and further tropical watches or warnings may be issued. New England And Canada as strong on Wednesday Hurricane Lee The North Atlantic takes a critical turn, exposing millions of people to potentially tropical-storm-force winds, dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents.
It’s still too early to know where Hurricane Lee will make landfall, as the forecast cone includes areas from Maine to Canada, but the NHC warned that Lee will be large enough to make landfall where the storm will make minimal difference to expected impacts.
Forecasters expect Hurricane Lee to continue to weaken as it moves closer to New England and forms beyondSo for those living in New England, the potential impacts will be more like one no’ester the time winter rather than a land collapse hurricane.
Those areas also have the potential to see tropical-storm-force the wind 40 miles or more. Large waves will also crash against the coast, bringing the risk of beach erosion and coastal flooding.
Where is Hurricane Lee?
Where Hurricane Lee is currently located. (Fox Weather)
As of last NHC AdvisorHurricane Lee is located about 475 miles south-southwest of Bermuda and is moving northwest at 6 mph with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane. Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Slow weakening is forecast to begin in the next few days, but the NHC said Lee is expected to remain a large and powerful hurricane.
What is the forecast track for Hurricane Lee?
Hurricane Lee forecast track. (Fox Weather)
The NHC said Lee will begin turning to the north-northwest on Wednesday, then turn north and begin increasing its frontal speed on Thursday or Friday.
On that forecast track, Lee’s center will move west of Bermuda on Thursday and Thursday night. It will then reach the coast of New England or Atlantic Canada by the end of the week and into the weekend.
Are watches or warnings in effect due to Hurricane Lee?
A current tropical storm watch is in effect as Hurricane Lee approaches Bermuda. (Fox Weather)
NHC says a Tropical Storm Warning Effective for Bermuda following the passage of Hurricane Lee until further notice
A tropical storm warning means that tropical-storm-force winds are expected in the storm warning area within 36 hours — and with Lee, beginning late Wednesday or Thursday. This wind may be accompanied by storm surge, coastal flooding and/or river flooding.
Also, the NHC said a tropical-related watch or warning may be necessary for parts of New England or Atlantic Canada Wednesday or Wednesday night.
What will Lee’s influence be in New England?
Lee’s forecast wind field. (Fox Weather)
Hurricane Lee is expected to bring strong, possibly damaging windstorms along with heavy surf and heavy rain to coastal New England.
Lee will begin to pick up speed as it turns north, and as it does so, the storm’s wind field is expected to increase in size.
The Fox Forecast Center expects Lee’s field of winds to extend 550 miles across, with far-reaching effects in New England.
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Gusty winds possible in eastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod. (Fox Weather)
Winds may gust across eastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod as Lee moves northward up the coast. Strong wind gusts will likely be felt in communities like Cape Cod Provincetown, Eastham, Barnstable And Harwich.
“Lee is going to start going through the extratropical transition where it becomes less like a hurricane and more like a nor’easter, which New Englanders are familiar with during the cooler times of the year,” said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center. Monday Fox Weather. “So, they can be dominant storms as well. Just because it doesn’t look like a classic hurricane — nothing that comes up at this latitude is going to look like a classic hurricane. It’s going to be fast moving, and it’s going to be hundreds of miles from the center regardless of the center’s track.” Maybe.”
Rainfall totals forecast from Hurricane Lee. (Fox Weather)
Most of the heavy rain is expected to fall over Atlantic Canada, but New England could get a few inches of rain depending on Hurricane Lee’s track.
Coastal areas from Massachusetts to Maine will see the heaviest rainfall, with most of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine seeing about 1-2 inches, with higher amounts in coastal areas of eastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod. Eastern Maine could see more, with forecast totals of 2-5 inches.
People living in New England still have a few days to prepare for any potential impact Lee may have on the region, but time is running out.
And while potential impacts can be seen throughout New England, residents of the Massachusetts coast as well as those living in Maine should pay attention to Lee’s progress and develop an action plan to get going.
Get the latest updates on this story at FOXWeather.com
