On September 14, Hurricane Lee was observed moving northward across the western Atlantic, and forecasters issued warnings for parts of coastal New England to anticipate tropical storm conditions by the afternoon.
As of the 5 a.m. AST update, the National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Lee was situated approximately 215 miles northwest of Bermuda and roughly 490 miles south-southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The storm was progressing northward at a speed of 16 mph and had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, categorizing it as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
A tropical storm warning was in effect for several areas, including Bermuda, the Massachusetts coast from Woods Hole to Hull, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Westport northward to the U.S.-Canada border, and New Brunswick from the U.S.-Canada border to Fort Lawrence. Additionally, a warning was issued for the coast of Nova Scotia from Fort Lawrence to Point Tupper.
Hurricane watches were in place for Petit Manan Point, Maine, to the U.S.-Canada border; New Brunswick from the U.S.-Canada border to Point Lepreau, including Grand Manan Island; and Nova Scotia from Digby to Medway Harbor.
The advisory noted that Hurricane Lee was moving northward at 16 mph, with a forecast predicting a faster northward motion through Saturday. The center of the hurricane was projected to move farther away from Bermuda while approaching the coast of New England and Atlantic Canada. Subsequently, Hurricane Lee was expected to turn northeastward and cross Atlantic Canada on Saturday night and Sunday.
While the storm was not expected to significantly change in strength on Friday and overnight, it was anticipated to transition into a “post-tropical” system and begin weakening by Saturday. Nevertheless, it was still considered a “large and dangerous storm” as it approached eastern New England and Atlantic Canada.
The forecasters warned of the possibility of hurricane conditions in the designated watch areas on Saturday, with tropical storm conditions expected to commence in southern New England on Friday afternoon, spreading northward. These conditions could result in fallen trees and potential power outages, cautioned the NHC.
Furthermore, the storm’s influence extended beyond its immediate path, with swells from Hurricane Lee affecting various regions, including the Lesser Antilles, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the east coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada. The forecasters stressed that these swells and rip currents could pose life-threatening hazards.
Source: with agencies