Header: Hurricane Lee Approaches New England, Coastal Residents Brace for Impact
Hurricane Lee, a Category 2 storm, is steadily moving towards New England, prompting hurricane and tropical storm watches for coastal residents. The storm is expected to reach the region’s southeast on Friday before heading towards Maine and Atlantic Canada over the weekend. Despite the forecasted weakening of the storm, its massive radius of damaging winds will significantly impact coastal New England and Canada’s Atlantic provinces.
According to the National Hurricane Center, eastern Maine is at risk of experiencing hurricane conditions, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding on Saturday. The area, along with parts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, is under a hurricane watch. In southeastern Massachusetts, “life-threatening” storm surge flooding is a possibility, leading to the issuance of a storm surge watch for Cape Cod and Nantucket. Additionally, a tropical storm watch has been issued for Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
As Hurricane Lee continues its path towards New England, its damaging winds will have a widespread impact regardless of whether it makes landfall. The storm’s wind field has been growing larger, with hurricane-force winds extending up to 105 miles from its center and tropical storm-force winds stretching for up to 290 miles. Lieutenant Commander Josh Rannenberg of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns that the storm’s expansive size will result in more widespread damage.
In addition to the strong winds, heavy rainfall poses a significant threat to the rain-drenched Northeast. Parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire have experienced rainfall levels more than 300% above normal in the past two weeks, leading to saturated ground and an increased risk of flash flooding. The region has already witnessed dangerous flooding in areas of Massachusetts and Rhode Island this week.
The combination of softened soil and strong winds increases the likelihood of downed trees, which could knock out power lines and cause widespread power outages across the region.
Residents in New England and Atlantic Canada are urged to take necessary precautions and stay updated on the storm’s progress. As Hurricane Lee inches closer, the potential for significant impact looms, emphasizing the importance of preparedness in these coastal areas.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-09-14 09:02:00