Lee transitioned from a hurricane to a post-tropical cyclone early Saturday but still produced hurricane-force winds as the storm approached Nova Scotia, according to Hurricane Center forecasters. Tropical storm conditions occur along coastal Massachusetts and Nova Scotia hours before its expected landfall in Canada.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect for parts of Canada and a wide stretch of coastal New England in the hours before dawn. Hurricane and tropical storm watches are in effect elsewhere in Canada.
New England experiences weather similar to what occurs during a nor’easter, says Andrew Loconto, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boston. During such storms, which typically occur in late fall and through the winter, large waves crash ashore and often flood coastal roads.
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The diminished storm still produces hurricane-force winds that extend far from its epicenter and are expected to reach the coastline. And for areas inland, it is “going to be a pretty breezy day,” Mr. Loconto says. Leaves are still on many trees, and abundant rain over the last several weeks could make some areas more susceptible to wind damage. Jon Breed, a spokesman for Central Maine Power, says that soil erosion caused by record rainfall means trees are less securely rooted in the ground, which could lead to power outages. Government leaders across New England and Canada issue alerts and warnings anticipating the arrival of a powerful storm this weekend, though a small shift east or west still could make a significant difference in how damaging it will ultimately be.
As of 5 a.m. on Saturday, Lee is about 220 miles south-southeast of Eastport, Maine, and 230 miles south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is moving north at 25 mph. Lee is expected to be at or just below hurricane strength when it reaches Nova Scotia later Saturday, the Hurricane Center says.
