Lee transitioned from a hurricane to a post-tropical cyclone early Saturday, but was still producing hurricane-force winds as the storm approached Nova Scotia, the Hurricane Center forecasters said. Tropical storm conditions were occurring along coastal Massachusetts and Nova Scotia hours before its expected landfall in Canada.
Tropical storm warnings were in effect for parts of Canada and a wide stretch of coastal New England in the hours before dawn. Hurricane and tropical storm watches were in effect elsewhere in Canada.
New England is likely to experience weather similar to what occurs during a nor’easter, said Andrew Loconto, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boston. During such storms, which typically occur in late fall and through the winter, large waves crash ashore and often flood coastal roads.
The diminished storm is still producing hurricane-force winds that extend far from its epicenter and are expected to reach the coastline. And for areas inland, it is “going to be a pretty breezy day,” Mr. Loconto said.
Leaves are still on many trees, and abundant rain over the last several weeks could make some areas more susceptible to wind damage. Jon Breed, a spokesman for Central Maine Power, said that soil erosion caused by record rainfall means trees are less securely rooted in the ground, which could lead to power outages.
Government leaders across New England and Canada had issued alerts and warnings anticipating the arrival of a powerful storm this weekend, though a small shift east or west still could make a significant difference in how damaging it will ultimately be.
As of 5 a.m. on Saturday, Lee was about 220 miles south-southeast of Eastport, Maine, and 230 miles south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was moving north at 25 m.ph. Lee is expected to be at or just below hurricane strength when it reaches Nova Scotia later Saturday, the Hurricane Center said.
These strongest winds are likely to occur over the Gulf of Maine and may affect portions of far northeastern Maine and Nova Scotia. Such winds can cause roof damage to homes, topple trees and down power lines.
With the strongest threat of the storm expected in Nova Scotia, the hurricane watch was discontinued for Maine, but a tropical storm warning still remains in place. Gov. Janet T. Mills of Maine declared a state of emergency on Thursday, and the White House ordered federal assistance to the state.
The Canadian Hurricane Center also extended a hurricane watch on Friday for part of the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The center said that its hurricane and tropical storm watches referred to conditions expected on Saturday.
A tropical storm warning, meaning winds of 39 miles per hour or higher are expected within about 36 hours or less, was in place from Westport, on the South Shore of Massachusetts, and the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard through parts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Canada. Forecasters warned that the growing size of the storm means hazards will extend well away from the center.
Friday night and into Saturday, Lee was expected to move past Cape Cod. By Saturday afternoon Lee’s center will be very near the western end of Nova Scotia.
‘It’s just going to get wider.’
As the storm heads north, it will weaken as it moves over cooler water. And as it approaches land, it’s likely to transition from a tropical system — one that gets its energy from the ocean — into one similar to Hurricane Sandy’s, which drew energy from competing cold and warm air masses.
While weakening is good, it will not diminish the potential impact of wind, rain and coastal flooding. “This storm is already on the larger side for a hurricane in terms of how wide it is,” Ms. Strauser said. “And it’s just going to get wider as it moves north.”
In Canada, officials are concerned that because of Lee’s broadness, it is likely to affect most of the Maritime Provinces and parts of eastern Quebec.
Western Nova Scotia faces some of the highest possible impacts from Lee, Environment Canada said.
Sydney Cromwell, Johnny Diaz, Melina Delkic, Mike Ives, Orlando Mayorquin, Anastasia Marks, Eduardo Medina, Chris Stanford, John Yoon and Derrick Bryson Taylor contributed reporting.