Stay informed with this version of the current CNN coverage of Hurricane Lee and Thursday’s forecast.
CNN –
Much of coastal New England is under hurricane and tropical storm warning as Hurricane Lee poses a threat to parts of the region and Atlantic Canada late this week and into the weekend.
The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch for eastern Maine on Saturday, warning of hurricane conditions, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding.
On Wednesday, Maine Gov. Janet Mills urged residents to exercise caution and take reasonable precautions to ensure their safety as the storm approaches.
The hurricane center has issued a storm surge watch for parts of southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and Nantucket, which could potentially flood due to dangerous storm waves.
Hurricane Lee’s size in relation to the US is emphasized in this satellite image taken on Wednesday by GOES-East/NOAA/NESDIS/STAR.
The center reported that a tropical storm watch has been issued for much of coastal New England, while hurricane watches have been extended from Stonington, Maine, to the US-Canada border.
The arrival of Lee’s winds on Friday evening could result in parts of New England and the Canadian Atlantic seaboard being hit.
According to an 11 p.m. ET advisory from the hurricane center, the massive storm was located approximately 345 miles south-southwest of Bermuda and maintained a Category 2 status, with sustained winds of 105 mph.
Lee’s impact on Bermuda on Thursday has already put the country under a tropical storm warning, and the center predicts that by early Thursday, it will be affected by tropical weather.
The forecast indicated that Lee’s center would move west of Bermuda on Thursday and Thursday night, before it converged on the coast of New England and Atlantic Canada on Friday and Saturday.
The storm center is hundreds of miles away from strong winds that extend over significant distances.
Lee’s weakening will be limited, but its massive size has grown significantly since the weekend, making it a formidable storm with significant impacts beyond its core. Hurricane-force winds can extend up to 115 miles from the center, and tropical storm-like winds cannot reach 265 miles.
A smaller storm is not necessarily less dangerous because a larger storm can affect broader regions, making it more probable that Lee will hit New England. Additionally, the wetter region is especially vulnerable to damage from strong winds and increased rainfall.
Lt. Cmdr. Josh Rannenberg told Erin Burnett that the storm, which was named Hurricane Lee, was dramatic and frightened people were likely affected by it regardless of their coastal locations.
The storm’s path is uncertain, but its effects are expected to be extensive throughout New England.
Lee’s size makes hazards extend far from the center, and there is little information about where the central area reaches the coast, according to the hurricane center.
The soil in a large portion of New England is already wet. Rainfall in certain areas of Massachusetts and New Hampshire has been above normal for the past two weeks, with parts of both states experiencing severe flooding earlier this week.
The environment will be primed for flash flooding due to increased precipitation levels this week, making even moderate rainfall from Lee potentially hazardous.
The combination of tropical storm-force winds and saturated soil will also make it more difficult for trees to fall, especially since many New England trees are still in full leaf form, which could result in power outages spreading throughout the area.
The southeastern US coast from Florida through the Carolinas is experiencing dangerous surf. Rip currents are now a concern along the East Coast, from Florentine to coastal Massachusetts.