State of emergency declared in Maine; residents brace for potential damage and power outages.

Eastern New England is on high alert as Hurricane Lee is poised to bring a barrage of adverse weather conditions to the region starting on Friday and continuing into Saturday, according to forecasters.

Maine Governor Janet Mills declared a state of emergency as the storm neared the coast, marking the state’s first hurricane watch in 15 years. While Hurricane Lee may not officially make landfall in New England, its expansive size ensures that its effects will be keenly felt across the region.

The National Hurricane Center emphasized that Lee is expected to remain a significant and perilous weather system over the next few days.

As of Thursday evening, Hurricane Lee had weakened to a Category 1 storm, with sustained winds of 85 mph. The storm’s center was approximately 640 665 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and it was moving northward at a rate of 15 mph.

A tropical storm warning along the New England coastline was extended northward to the U.S./Canada border, signifying the likelihood of tropical storm conditions within the next 36 hours. Areas including southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket remained under a tropical storm warning, with hurricane and tropical storm watches in effect along portions of the coastal region.

The National Hurricane Center cautioned that Hurricane Lee is a formidable weather system, with hurricane-force winds extending up to 105 miles from its center and tropical-storm-force winds spanning up to 345 miles.

The primary threats for southern New England include destructive winds, powerful surf, and potential flooding. Saturated soils combined with Lee’s winds could lead to fallen trees and power outages, while coastal regions from Massachusetts to Maine may experience coastal flooding and large, pounding waves.

Emergency management agencies, the Coast Guard, and utility companies have urged residents to prepare for the storm’s impact, with reinforcements being brought in to address potential power outages. Communities, like Boothbay Harbor Marina in Maine, have taken proactive measures to protect boats from the impending storm.

Meteorologists have also warned of the risk of flash flooding, especially in areas where the soil is already saturated from previous rain. Ocean waves as tall as 20 feet could batter the coast, potentially causing structural damage and erosion.

Additionally, New England is bracing for storm surge, which, when combined with tide, could inundate normally dry coastal areas. The timing of the surge in relation to high tide will be a critical factor in determining the extent of flooding in regions such as Long Island Sound, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Boston Harbor, and parts of New York.

Residents of Cape Cod have been advised to prepare for potential power outages lasting several days and have been encouraged to stock up on essential supplies, including non-perishable food, water, medicine, flashlights, and batteries.

The local power company, Eversource, has advised residents to be ready for extended periods without electricity. Hardware stores in the affected areas have reported increased demand for sandbags, flood barriers, generators, fuel containers, and other emergency supplies.

As Hurricane Lee approaches, residents and authorities are closely monitoring its path and preparing for the potential impacts of this powerful storm.