Live updates: Lee makes landfall in Nova Scotia, New England conditions improving

WHAT TO KNOW:

Originally called Hurricane Lee, now called “Post Tropical Cyclone Lee” delivered rain and wind gusts to parts of Massachusetts’ coast.

The National Weather Service placed a hurricane watch in Maine for the first time in 15 years before lifting the alert. A tropical storm warning remains in place.

Gov. Healey declares state of emergency, activates National Guard ahead of Hurricane Lee’s arrival

LIVE UPDATES:

9/16/23 11:00 p.m.

Lee continues to affect New Brunswick, Canada bringing strong winds, coastal flooding and heavy rains, according to the National Hurricane Center.

9/16/23 6:30 p.m.

A 51-year-old motorist in Searsport, Maine, has died after a large tree limb fell on his vehicle Saturday on U.S. 1 during a period high winds, the first fatality attributed to post-tropical cyclone Lee, the Associated Press reports.

The tree limb brought down live power lines, and utility workers had to cut power before the man could be removed, said Police Chief Brian Lunt.

Maine man dies after large tree limb falls on vehicle; 1st fatality attributed to tropical storm Lee

9/16/23 4:00 p.m.

Post-Tropical Cyclone Lee made landfall in Nova Scotia at 4:00 p.m., according to the National Hurricane Center. The post-tropical storm brought sustained winds of 70mph as it spun around 50 miles away from Eastport, Maine.

9/16/23 12:50 p.m.

Governor Maura Healey has lifted the states of emergencies she declared on September 12 and 15 related to severe weather and flooding.

“We’re relieved that the impacts of Hurricane Lee have been minimal across Massachusetts and grateful for the public safety officials who have been responding to and preparing for severe weather and flooding throughout the week,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Flooding devastated several of our communities this week and we will continue to support them as they move into the recovery phase. We thank the people of Massachusetts for their preparation and resiliency.”

9/16/23 12:01 p.m.

The Steamship Authority says Martha’s Vineyard ferry service is resuming with trips to Oak Bluffs being diverted to Vineyard Haven.

The authority says it’s consolidating freight vessel trips. The M/V Island Home and M/V Nantucket are running and will continue to as conditions allow.

Nantucket service is still trip-by-trip.

9/16/23 11:30 a.m.

All tropical storm warnings have been dropped for Massachusetts as Lee moves out of the area.

9/16/23 11:09 a.m.

Police in Dennis Police say local beaches in their town will be reopening at noon.

Surf on Cape Cod is still heavy. Boston 25 viewer Cara Carrazza shared this video from Coast Guard Beach in Eastham.

9/16/23 10:10 a.m.

Breaking news: President Biden has approved Massachusetts’ emergency declaration.

President Joe Biden has declared that an emergency exists in Massachusetts and has ordered federal assistance to supplement the state’s response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Lee from September 15 to September 17, 2023.

According to a statement from the White House, “The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all 14 Massachusetts counties.”

“Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care, including evacuation and sheltering support, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding,” according to the statement.

9/16/23 9:20 a.m.

Rebecca Turco reports on conditions while traveling along a shore road in Dennis.

9/16/23 9:15 a.m.

Kelly Sullivan has a update on conditions in Chatham as of 9:00 a.m.

9/16/23 9:14 a.m.

Photos show trees down in Brewster after Lee came through.

9/16/23 9:05 a.m.

There are some reports of trees coming down on Cape Cod. Eversource crews are on the scene repairing lines in Falmouth.

9/16/23 8:18 a.m.

Rebecca Turco reports on conditions while traveling through Bourne in the Weather Wrangler headed for Cape Cod.

9/16/23 8:15 a.m.

A video update from Kelly Sullivan in Chatham covering storm conditions from Lee.

9/16/23 7:43 a.m.

Some updated wind gusts this morning from Boston 25 meteorologist Vicki Graf.

9/16/23 7:31 a.m.

7 a.m. video storm update from Kelly Sullivan from Chatham.

9/16/23 7:22 a.m.

Video from Nantucket shows a boat that came loose and ran aground as Lee moved through.

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9/16/23 6:35 a.m.

Here are some of the strongest winds in the past 2 hours, according to National Weather Service reports:

533 AM: Dennis, MA: 63 MPH (Sustained 42 MPH)

531 AM: Nantucket, MA Polpis Harbor: 55 MPH (Sustained 42 MPH)

510 AM: Eastham, MA: 60 MPH (sustained 44 MPH)

9/16/23 6:30 a.m.

The Steamship Authority says all ferry service will be on a trip-by-trip basis Saturday morning until conditions allow for safe travel.

There are cancellations and delays at Logan Airport. Call your airline before heading to the airport.

9/16/23: 6:00 a.m.

The storm is now called a “Post-tropical cyclone”, not a hurricane. It’s because it’s not symmetrical with an eye, but has fronts now. Post-Tropical Cyclone Lee still has hurricane-force winds more than 100 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds more than 300 miles from the center.

9/15/23 11:00 p.m.

Rain is pushing through Cape Cod as the latest track shows Hurricane Lee pushing a little further out into the ocean than previous models. As the storm continues to open up, models show Lee losing its tropical status and becoming more like a Nor’Easter before it makes landfall in Nova Scotia.

Winds are gusting over 40 miles per hour from Plymouth to Nantucket, according to the Boston 25′s Chief Meteorologist Kevin Lemanowicz.

9/15/23 9:30 p.m.

By 9:30 p.m. Friday night, Lee was spinning about 250 miles southeast of Nantucket and moving away from Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, according to the Boston 25′s Kevin Lemanowicz.

9/15/23 7 p.m.

Boston 25 Chief Meteorologist Kevin Lemanowicz says current models show Hurricane Lee glancing the New England area between 2:00 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday., bringing tropical storm-like conditions.

9/15/23 5 p.m.

Tropical storm conditions and coastal flooding are expected to begin in southern New England on Friday evening. Downed trees and power outages are possible, the NWS says.

Hurricane conditions are possibly in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

9/15/23 4:45 p.m.

The White Mountain National Forest urges visitors to be cautious and consider staying indoors as Hurricane Lee carries gusty winds, rain showers and cooler temperatures to the Granite State this weekend.

9/15/23, 2 p.m.

Hurricane Lee’s outer rain bands are approaching southeastern New England, according to the National Hurricane Center.

9/15/23, 1:55 p.m.

The Steamship Authority has canceled its high-speed service to Nantucket for Friday. Nantucket route service is on a trip-by-trip basis, according to the ferry service. Service to Oak Bluffs has also been diverted to Vineyard Haven for the remainder of the day, Friday.

9/15/23, 1:30 p.m.

Hy-Line Cruises has suspended its service to Nantucket until further notice, “until Lee has passed and conditions allow resumption. This is not anticipated to be before Saturday afternoon at the earliest.”

9/15/23, 12:30 p.m.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey on Friday declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard in advance of potentially damaging wind gusts, rain, and coastal flooding that’s expected to accompany the arrival of Hurricane Lee late Friday night through Saturday.

9/15/23, 10 a.m.

With high wind gusts predicted due to Hurricane Lee, the MBTA announced adjustments to ferry schedules for Friday and Saturday:

• Lynn Ferry: All inbound and outbound trips are canceled.

• East Boston Ferry: All inbound and outbound trips will be canceled following the conclusion of the outbound 6:45 PM trip from Long Wharf to Lewis Mall Wharf.

• Charlestown Ferry: All inbound and outbound trips will be canceled following the conclusion of the outbound 6:30 PM trip from Long Wharf (South) to Charlestown Navy Yard.

• Hingham/Hull Ferry: All inbound and outbound trips will be canceled following the conclusion of the outbound 8:25 PM trip from Long Wharf (North) to Hull and Hingham.

• Winthrop Ferry and Hingham-Rowes Wharf Ferry services will operate as scheduled.

On Saturday all MBTA ferry services will be canceled. On Sunday all MBTA ferry services will operate their normal schedules.

9/15/23, 9:00 a.m.

Lee remained a “large hurricane” over the Western Atlantic and tropical storm conditions are expected to begin across parts of coastal New England later this afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center.

“Lee is expected to be a large and dangerous storm when it reaches eastern New England and Atlantic Canada,” the NHC said.

Lee is expected to weaken into a post-tropical storm by Saturday as it passes Massachusetts, the NHC added.

9/15/23, 5:00 a.m.

No impact changes with the 5 a.m. update. Hurricane Lee is set to track about 170 miles off the Massachusetts coast tomorrow with most of the strong wind and rain focused over Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

9/14/23, 11:00 p.m.

9/14/23, 6:00 p.m.

Maine Governor Janet Mills declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Hurricane Lee.

Mills also requested that President Joe Biden issue a preemptive Presidential Emergency Disaster to help facilitate federal resources and funds.

9/14/23, 5:15 p.m.

Southern Plymouth, Southern Bristol, Western Plymouth, Easter Norfolk, Suffolk, and Eastern Essex counties are all under a tropical storm warning as of early Thursday evening.

The tropical storm warning along the coast of Massachusetts has been extended westward to Westport and the tropical storm watch west of Westport has been discontinued, according to National Weather Service.

9/14/23, 2:45 p.m.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell announces that FEMA is ready to support Massachusetts as needed with heavy rainfall in the forecast through Saturday night.

9/14/23, 1 p.m.

Hy-Line Cruises announced that all service between Hyannis/Martha’s Vineyard and direct inter-island service between Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket has been canceled on Friday and Saturday. Hyannis/Nantucket service will run on a trip-by-trip basis for Friday with service interruptions anticipated.

9/14/23, 11 a.m.

The National Weather Service issues tropical storm warnings for portions of southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and Nantucket, cautioning residents that there is the potential for life-threatening storm surge flooding.

9/14/23, 10 a.m.

The Steamship Authority announces that Nantucket service disruptions may start Friday night and both routes will see cancellations Saturday.

The length of the service disruptions will depend on how quickly the storm moves through the area and the condition of the seas and our facilities after the winds die down.

Cancellation fees for any travel booked for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday have been waived.

9/14/23, 9 a.m.

National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Michael Brennan tells Boston 25 News that Lee “continues to get bigger” as it pushes north.

“The trend is Lee continues to get bigger. That’s the main message,” Brennan said. “Impacts are going to extend well away from the center.”

Brennan said Lee will likely pass east of the coast of Massachusetts, but effects from the storm’s tropical force wind field will be felt.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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