Maine is no longer in Hurricane Lee’s direct path.
The National Weather Service discontinued the hurricane watch for Down East Maine as of 11 a.m. Friday after the potential path of the giant storm narrowed and shifted to the east. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the entire Maine coast.
Tropical storm conditions expected to hit late Friday afternoon are likely to lead to downed trees, potential power outages, costal flooding, life-threatening surf and rip-tides and significant rain in the Downeast region.
President Biden has approved an emergency declaration request in Maine ahead of Hurricane Lee’s expected impacts on the state.
Gov. Janet Mills declared a state of emergency Thursday in anticipation of the storm and asked Biden to issue the Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration, which would allow the state to access federal resources and personnel to assist with the storm response.
The declaration runs through Sunday. The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will coordinate any disaster relief efforts.
The National Hurricane Center said tropical storm conditions are expected to begin across parts of coastal New England on Friday afternoon. Emergency officials and electric utilities are preparing for coastal damage and power outages.
Mills thanked Biden in a statement Friday morning.
“I thank President Biden for his swift approval of my request for an Emergency Disaster Declaration, which will give us access to additional resources as we work to keep Maine people safe during this storm,” said Mills. “I continue to strongly urge all Maine people, especially those Downeast, to take the necessary precautions to stay safe as Hurricane Lee moves closer.”
As the storm moves in the state should expect winds of up to 40 mph. Near shore waves — measured by buoys a few miles off shore — are expected to peak at 4-7 feet today, 5-9 feet tonight and 12-18 feet Saturday, according to the Gray National Weather Service.
The weather service has issued a coastal flood advisory for high tide Friday, which will hit around midnight, and high tide Saturday, which will be in the early afternoon. The storm is still expected to have a more significant impact in Downeast compared to other portions of the state. The region may receive as much as four inches of rain over the course of the storm.
Southern and western portions of the state, however, might not get any rain at all.
The storm is expected to make landfall in southern New England Friday afternoon and move northward along the New England coast through Saturday.
This story will be updated.
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