(HYANNIS) – Hurricane Lee continued to move north on Thursday afternoon, passing to the west of Bermuda with a track that would take it at least 150 miles east of Cape Cod as a weakening Category 1 storm.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Lee’s potential landfall as a tropical storm would happen Saturday evening over Nova Scotia or extreme eastern Maine. By early Thursday afternoon, forecasters said the peak wind had dropped to 100 mph as Lee was experiencing increased vertical shear, which would help to slowly weaken the storm.
Air Force hurricane hunters reported that an eye was no longer present, but the storm continues to have deep convection around the eastern and northern portions of the circulation. Lee has also picked up speed Thursday afternoon, moving at 12 knots. The current track has Lee moving north and the northeastward before it makes a slight bend to the west in the Gulf of Maine and then continue east into Canada and the northern Atlantic.
Cape Cod and the Islands can expect wind and rain to move into the area late Friday and continue through Saturday. Rain would be heavy at times on Friday night with wind out of the north at 24 to 34 mph. Showers will continue on Saturday, heavy at times, with northwest winds 32 to 36 mph with gusts at high as 55 mph. More showers are expected Saturday night with a west wind lessening to 20 to 25 mph and gusts as high at 38 mph.
East facing beaches on Cape Cod and beaches along Cape Cod Bay will likely see the most erosion during the storm.
Tropical Storm Warnings and Storm Surge Watches are in effect for the region.
Sunshine returns on Sunday with a high near 76.
Tropical Storm Warning
Lee Local Watch/Warning Statement/Advisory Number 38
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA AL132023
514 PM EDT Thu Sep 14 2023
…TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT…
…STORM SURGE WATCH IS CANCELLED…
* LOCATIONS AFFECTED
– Chatham
– Falmouth
– Provincetown
* WIND
– LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Below tropical storm force wind
– Peak Wind Forecast: 25-35 mph with gusts to 60 mph
– THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST
UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for wind 39
to 57 mph
– The wind threat has remained nearly steady from the
previous assessment.
– PLAN: Plan for hazardous wind of equivalent tropical storm
force.
– PREPARE: Efforts to protect property should now be
underway. Prepare for limited wind damage.
– ACT: Act now to complete preparations before the wind
becomes hazardous.
– POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited
– Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored
mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.
– Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or
uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees
are shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown
over.
– A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within
urban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving
conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways.
– Scattered power and communications outages.
* STORM SURGE
– No storm surge inundation forecast
– THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST
UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Little to no storm
surge flooding
– The storm surge threat has decreased from the previous
assessment.
– PLAN: There is little to no threat of storm surge flooding.
Rough surf, coastal erosion, and life-threatening rip
currents are possible.
– PREPARE: Little to no preparations for storm surge flooding
are needed.
– ACT: Follow the instructions of local officials. Monitor
forecasts.
– REALIZED IMPACTS: Being Assessed
– Little to no additional surge impacts expected. Community
officials are now assessing the extent of actual surge
impacts accordingly.
* FLOODING RAIN
– LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
– Peak Rainfall Amounts: Additional 1-3 inches, with locally
higher amounts
– THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST
UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for
localized flooding rain
– The flooding rain threat has remained nearly steady from
the previous assessment.
– PLAN: Emergency plans should include the potential for
localized flooding from heavy rain.
– PREPARE: Consider protective actions if you are in an area
vulnerable to flooding.
– ACT: Heed any flood watches and warnings.
– POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited
– Localized rainfall flooding may prompt a few evacuations.
– Rivers and tributaries may quickly rise with swifter
currents. Small streams, creeks, and ditches may become
swollen and overflow in spots.
– Flood waters can enter a few structures, especially in
usually vulnerable spots. A few places where rapid ponding
of water occurs at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor
drainage areas. Several storm drains and retention ponds
become near-full and begin to overflow. Some brief road and
bridge closures.
* TORNADO
– LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
– Situation is unfavorable for tornadoes
– THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST
UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Tornadoes not expected
– The tornado threat has remained nearly steady from the
previous assessment.
– PLAN: Tornadoes are not expected. Showers and thunderstorms
with gusty winds may still occur.
– PREPARE: Little to no preparations needed to protect
against tornadoes at this time. Keep informed of the latest
tornado situation.
– ACT: Listen for changes in the forecast.
– POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Little to None
– Little to no potential impacts from tornadoes.
* FOR MORE INFORMATION:
– https://www.weather.gov/box
High Surf Advisory
Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
553 PM EDT Thu Sep 14 2023
…HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING
TO 8 AM EDT SUNDAY…
…COASTAL FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT FRIDAY
NIGHT TO 2 PM EDT SATURDAY…
* WHAT…For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 5
to 12 feet expected in the surf zone on Friday. On Saturday,
large breaking waves of 8 to 20 feet expected in the surf
zone. For the Coastal Flood Warning, up to one half foot of
inundation above ground level expected in low-lying areas near
shorelines and tidal waterways (4.7 to 12.3 feet Mean Lower
Low Water).
* WHERE…Barnstable MA County.
* WHEN…For the High Surf Advisory, from 11 PM this evening to
8 AM EDT Sunday. For the Coastal Flood Warning, from midnight
Friday night to 2 PM EDT Saturday.
* IMPACTS…Numerous roads may be closed. Low lying property
including homes, businesses, and some critical infrastructure
will be inundated. Some shoreline erosion will occur.
Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach
erosion.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property. If
travel is required, do not drive around barricades or through
water of unknown depth.
Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to
dangerous surf conditions.
