Lee will likely stay east of Maine and track into Nova Scotia. Due to the its size, it is expected to hit Maine like a Nor’easter WGME graphic
Maine will have nice weather today and Friday to prepare for Hurricane Lee’s arrival Saturday morning. Areas across are expected to be impacted.
TRACKING EAST
Models trends and track shifts have been favorable for Maine, especially the central and southern part of the state. Lee will likely pass east of Downeast, into the Bay of Fundy or western Nova Scotia.
With a further east track, rainfall will be much less in central and southern Maine, and winds won’t be as strong.
TIMING: SATURDAY MORNING ARRIVAL
Conditions will go downhill quickly Saturday morning. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., we will see the impacts from Lee. The worst conditions are likely coming in the middle of the day.
High tide at 12:47 p.m. will bring the biggest threat for coastal damage.
SPEAKING OF COASTAL DAMAGE
Lee will essentially be a large, powerful Nor’easter by the time it reaches Maine. Huge waves along the coast will be the biggest threat.
At high tide these large waves could easily lead to some over wash and damage along the coast. Luckily, offshore wind will help to temper the threat of storm surge.
Winds will be strongest in Downeast Maine. Gusts over 50 mph are likely. Winds will be less in central and southern Maine, but the outage threat is still high. WGME graphic
WIND GUSTS ACROSS MAINE
All of Maine will see gusty winds with Lee. The highest winds will be along the Midcoast and Downeast immediate coastlines. Winds there will gust over 50mph for many.
Inland places like Lewiston, Augusta and farther down the coast from the Portland area through the New Hampshire border, wind gusts will approach and potentially exceed 40 mph.
With saturated soils and stressed trees from the very wet summer, the risk of power outages is high. With a more easterly track, central and southern Maine may be spared widespread outages. But some outages are a certainty.
Midcoast and Downeast will see more widespread power losses as the winds will be stronger.
This satellite image taken at 7:51 a.m. Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Lee in the Atlantic Ocean. NOAA via AP
RAIN THREAT LOW
Outside of Downeast Maine, rainfall is the lowest on the threat list for Lee.
Downeast Maine will likely see several inches of rain with the potential for some freshwater flooding.
Central and southern Maine will be on the much drier side of Lee.
Only light rainfall amounts are expected, less than half an inch potentially for many. The freshwater flood risk outside of Downeast Maine is quite low at this time.
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