PHOTOS: Lee's winds cause damage, outages across Maritimes, one injured

Digital Writers
·17 min read

Lee’s weeks-long journey across the Atlantic Ocean reached its end on Saturday as the storm lashed the Maritimes with damaging winds, heavy rains, and coastal flooding.

The storm will continue through the day on Saturday, with the worst conditions peaking through the evening hours before slowly subsiding into Sunday.

GET THE LATEST: Lee's damaging winds, rain, surge continue as storm hits Maritimes

Lee Landfall Nova Scotia 5pm September 16 2023
Lee Landfall Nova Scotia 5pm September 16 2023

Forecasters declared Lee a post-tropical storm on Saturday as it approached Nova Scotia, losing its tropical characteristics as it transitioned from a hurricane into a storm that more closely resembled a potent nor’easter.

The centre of post-tropical storm Lee officially made landfall on Long Island in extreme southwestern Nova Scotia at 5:00 p.m. local time, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). Lee's centre will move over the Bay of Fundy and make a second landfall in New Brunswick later Saturday evening.

WATCH: Lee makes landfall in Nova Scotia

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It took more than two weeks for Lee to reach the Maritimes. Lee briefly grew into a Category 5 hurricane as it passed north of the Antilles, becoming only the 29th scale-topping storm witnessed in the Atlantic since the satellite era began in 1960.

DON'T MISS: Storm surge, winds cause damage in N.S. South Shore communities

Lee Power Outages 3pm September 16 2023
Lee Power Outages 3pm September 16 2023

Widespread power outages resulted from gusty winds buffeting the Maritimes as Lee pushed into the region on Saturday.

Around 120,000 customers remained without power in Nova Scotia by 8:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, while nearly 20,000 customers were without power at the same time in New Brunswick. Maritime Electric reported several thousand customers without power on Prince Edward Island as the winds picked up there through the afternoon and evening.

Numerous flights, events, and ferry crossings have been cancelled across the Maritimes. Peggy’s Cove also remained closed to the public due to the hazardous conditions.

Lee flooding in Queensland, Nova Scotia, Sept. 16, 2023 /X
Lee flooding in Queensland, Nova Scotia, Sept. 16, 2023 /X

Taken in Queensland, N.S. (J. Albert Walker/X)

Standing water, utility lines, and fallen trees have been reported on roadways along the Nova Scotia coast from Yarmouth to Guysborough, according to the RCMP. The agency advises motorists to stay off the roads during the storm.

SEE ALSO: Fiona versus Lee: How powerful but different these hurricanes are

In Nova Scotia's South Shore, damage was reported as a result of the storm surge and intense wind gusts. Several boats have broken their moorings, including a catamaran that was wedged against the rocks at the shoreline, as reported by CBC News.

In New Brunswick, numerous traffic lights are out and some roadways are washed out and impassible. Fredericton police said on Twitter that crews from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure are responding.

Hurricane Lee Rain Totals 8pm September 16 2023
Hurricane Lee Rain Totals 8pm September 16 2023

Widespread alerts are in effect throughout Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and P.E.I. Conditions aren't expected to improve until Sunday as what's left of Lee pushes into Newfoundland.

There has been one injury reported as a result of the storm. A motorist was injured when a pine tree fell on his vehicle while he was driving into Blockhouse, N.S., reported by CBC News. His injuries were not life-threatening.

Cellular service has also been deteriorating across Nova Scotia, CBC News reports, with Bell, Rogers, Eastlink, and Telus all stating that widespread power outages have resulted in some areas experiencing network congestion and outages.

Below is just a selection of visuals making the rounds on social media currently.

WATCH: VIDEO: Lee starts the day in Nova Scotia with strong winds and rough waves

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WATCH: Waves from Lee cover roads in debris, make driving treacherous

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Thumbnail courtesy of Carrie Ryan/Twitter, taken on South Shore, N.S., on Sept. 16, 2023.