Hurricane Lee path takes storm toward New England

Hurricane Lee path takes storm toward New England

Hurricane Lee was bringing tropical storm conditions to Bermuda on Thursday as the giant storm continued on a path northward toward New England and Canada.

Lee was a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds on Thursday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. But Lee was a very large storm, and hurricane-force wind and rain extended 105 miles from its center, and tropical storm winds (39 mph and higher) stretched out for 290 miles.

A hurricane watch remained in place for parts of Maine’s coast, and storm surge watches were in effect for parts of Massachusetts.

The center of Lee was passing to the west of Bermuda on Thursday, but the island was still experiencing gusty winds and heavy rain, and a tropical storm warning continued for the island. Here’s a look at a webcam from Port Bermuda.

As of 7 a.m. CDT Thursday, the center of Hurricane Lee was located about 265 miles southwest of Bermuda, or 795 miles south of Nantucket, Mass., and was moving north at 12 mph, according to the hurricane center.

Forecasters expect Lee to turn toward the north-northeast and then northeast on Saturday night and Sunday. On that track, the hurricane center said the center of Lee will approach the coast of New England and Atlantic Canada on Friday and Saturday, and move across Atlantic Canada Saturday night and Sunday.

“Hurricane conditions and coastal flooding are possible in portions of eastern Maine, southern New Brunswick, and western Nova Scotia on Saturday, and a Hurricane Watch is in effect for that area,” the hurricane center said Thursday. “Heavy rainfall in these areas may produce localized urban and small stream flooding from Friday night into Saturday night.”

Here are the watches and warnings as of Thursday morning:

* A hurricane watch is in effect for Stonington, Maine, to the U.S./Canada border, from New Brunswick from the U.S./Canada border to Point Lepreau, including Grand Manan Island and for Nova Scotia from Digby to Medway Harbour.

* A tropical storm warning is in effect for Bermuda.

* A tropical storm watch is in effect from Watch Hill, R.I., to Stonington, Maine, as well as Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, New Brunswick from north of Point Lepreau to Fort Lawrence, Nova Scotia west coast from north of Digby to Fort Lawrence and Nova Scotia southeast coast from north of Medway Harbour to Porter’s Lake.

* A storm surge watch is in effect for Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket.

The hurricane center said tropical storm conditions will continue on Bermuda through Friday. Hurricane conditions are possible in Down East Maine and in Atlantic Canada on Saturday. Tropical storm conditions will be possible in coastal New England and Atlantic Canada late Friday into Saturday.

Lee could bring 2 to 4 feet of storm surge to parts of Massachusetts.

Dangerous seas and deadly rip currents will also be possible all along the U.S. East Coast as well as Bermuda.