PHOTOS: Lee's winds cause damage, outages across Maritimes, one injured
Widespread power outages, wind damage, and flooding has been reported across the Maritimes as Lee pushed into this weekend. One person was reportedly injured
Lee’s weeks-long journey across the Atlantic Ocean made landfall Saturday as the storm lashed the Maritimes with damaging winds, heavy rains, and coastal flooding.
The storm will continue Sunday morning before slowly subsiding.
GET THE LATEST: High winds, heavy rain continue overnight as Lee crosses Maritimes
Forecasters declared Lee a post-tropical storm on Saturday as it approached Nova Scotia, losing its tropical characteristics as it transitioned from a hurricane into a storm that more closely resembled a potent nor’easter.
The centre of post-tropical storm Lee officially made landfall on Long Island in extreme southwestern Nova Scotia at 5:00 p.m. local time, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). Lee's centre will move over the Bay of Fundy and make a second landfall in New Brunswick later Saturday evening.
WATCH: Lee makes landfall in Nova Scotia
It took more than two weeks for Lee to reach the Maritimes. Lee briefly grew into a Category 5 hurricane as it passed north of the Antilles, becoming only the 29th scale-topping storm witnessed in the Atlantic since the satellite era began in 1960.
DON'T MISS: Storm surge, winds cause damage in N.S. South Shore communities
Widespread power outages resulted from gusty winds buffeting the Maritimes as Lee pushed into the region on Saturday.
Around 100,000 customers remained without power in Nova Scotia by 4:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, while roughly 13,000 customers were without power at the same time in New Brunswick. Maritime Electric reported several thousand customers without power on Prince Edward Island as the winds picked up there through the afternoon and evening.
Numerous flights, events, and ferry crossings have been cancelled across the Maritimes. Peggy’s Cove also remained closed to the public due to the hazardous conditions.
Taken in Queensland, N.S. (J. Albert Walker/X)
Standing water, utility lines, and fallen trees have been reported on roadways along the Nova Scotia coast from Yarmouth to Guysborough, according to the RCMP. The agency advises motorists to stay off the roads during the storm.
SEE ALSO: Fiona versus Lee: How powerful but different these hurricanes are
In Nova Scotia's South Shore, damage was reported as a result of the storm surge and intense wind gusts. Several boats have broken their moorings, including a catamaran that was wedged against the rocks at the shoreline, as reported by CBC News.
In New Brunswick, numerous traffic lights are out and some roadways are washed out and impassible. Fredericton police said on Twitter that crews from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure are responding.
Widespread alerts are in effect throughout Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and P.E.I.
There has been one injury reported as a result of the storm. A motorist was injured when a pine tree fell on his vehicle while he was driving into Blockhouse, N.S., reported by CBC News. His injuries were not life-threatening.
Cellular service has also been deteriorating across Nova Scotia, CBC News reports, with Bell, Rogers, Eastlink, and Telus all stating that widespread power outages have resulted in some areas experiencing network congestion and outages.
Below is just a selection of visuals making the rounds on social media currently.
WATCH: VIDEO: Lee starts the day in Nova Scotia with strong winds and rough waves
WATCH: Waves from Lee cover roads in debris, make driving treacherous
Thumbnail courtesy of Carrie Ryan/Twitter, taken on South Shore, N.S., on Sept. 16, 2023.
