Post-Tropical Cyclone Lee is mere hours from landfall in Canadian Maritimes as the sprawling storm reaches back into New England, threatening near hurricane-force winds, pounding surf and bursts of heavy rain.
While the name of Lee has changed from “hurricane” to “post-tropical cyclone,” the difference for those in New England is in title only.
“Most of you in New England … this (name change) is purely academic. It does not change what we’re going to feel,” said FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin. “Although this is no longer a tropical cyclone, it still has the strength of a category 1 hurricane — the winds are still at 80 mph.”
The storm is now getting its power from more traditional atmospheric clashes between warm and cold air, and no longer drawing energy from warm waters below like hurricanes and tropical storms, the FOX Forecast Center said.
HURRICANE LEE LIVE TRACKER: PROJECTED PATH, WATCHES AND WARNINGS, POWER OUTAGES, WIND GUSTS AND MORE
Conditions started worsening late Friday evening and will be at their worst on Saturday morning into Saturday afternoon.
HURRICANE LEE’S WAVES REVEAL HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE FENCE AT CAPE HATTERAS
As the storm makes its trek, as much as 50-60 mph wind gusts are likely along the immediate coastlines of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, leading to power outages and downed trees as trees still remain full of leaves. Wellfleet along the Cape Cod coast hit a gust of 65 mph early Saturday morning. Just inland from the coast, 40-50 mph wind gusts are expected.
HURRICANE LEE TIMELINE TRACKER: WHEN AND WHERE TO EXPECT IMPACTS IN NEW ENGLAND, MAINE
Rising waters from a combination of storm surge and tide will flood typically dry areas near the coast. The coasts of Cape Cod and New England are expected to experience 1-3 feet of surge, while Long Island may see 1-2 feet.
According to the NHC, the most significant flooding will happen along the immediate coast, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves that could reach 10-18 feet or higher, depending on proximity to the storm with Downeast Maine forecast to receive the highest waves.
The strongest onshore winds are now expected to occur before high tide which should limit any coastal flood threat. Still, minor flooding is expected during the time of high tide around midday Saturday.
Power outages across New England top 3,000 as of Saturday morning, but there are still several hours to go of conditions that will bring down trees and power lines.
‘STATE OF EMERGENCY’: PEOPLE FROM NEW ENGLAND TO CANADA BRACE FOR HURRICANE LEE
Huge breaking waves will lead to beach erosion and minor inundation along the immediate coast.
“It’s hard to tell with Maine. You can never really be sure what you’re getting here,” Portland, Maine, resident Logan MacDonald said. “Seems like the weather changes every five minutes but with storms you really just go out, and prepare, buy all of the essentials. Some candles, you know and hope for the best.”
100+ MPH WIND GUSTS EXPECTED ON NEW ENGLAND MOUNTAIN SUMMIT AS HURRICANE LEE ROARS PAST REGION
The storm will not produce significant flooding rains due to its forecast track and fast motion, but some places along the coast in Maine could pick up 3-5 inches of rain over the weekend.
Conditions will rapidly improve later Saturday into Sunday from south to north as Lee begins to accelerate and race off to the northeast through the Canadian Maritimes.