Hurricane Lee Event Summary

5:19 PM ADT Sunday 17 September 2023

This is a special meteorological summary for  Post-tropical storm Lee. This is the final information statement for this storm.

1. Summary.

An area of disturbed weather emerged from the west coast of Africa in early September. By September 6th, a tropical cyclone had formed and in the following day it quickly intensified into a powerful hurricane over the central tropical Atlantic. At peak intensity, the winds reached 145 knots (269 km/h).  Lee passed north of the Caribbean sea on September 10-11th and then started traveling towards the Gulf Stream and Atlantic Canada on the September 12-13th, passing west of Bermuda on the 14th.  Hurricane Lee weakened as it reached the CHC Response Zone late on Friday the 15th. Lee was declared post-tropical as it approached the coast of western Nova Scotia the following day. Post-tropical storm Lee touched land over Long Island in Digby county early in the evening of the 16th with maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h and a central pressure estimated at 970 millibars. The remnant low travelled across the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Sunday the 17th before departing Newfoundland late that day. 

2. Public weather impacts.

Tropical storm warnings were issued for most of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Iles-de-la-Madeleine, and parts of New Brunswick.

a. Wind.

Severe winds spread over Nova Scotia Friday night, and then over the remaining regions during the day Saturday. Winds gusts ranged from 80 to 120 km/h, with a gust of 150 km/h (unofficial) reported at Longs Eddy point, on Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick. Some of the regions experienced these violent winds for nearly 24 hours. Given the abundance of rainfall over the the summer months, the ground was quite saturated therefore trees were more easily uprooted. Widespread utility outages occurred especially across Nova Scotia where the strongest winds were reported.

Peak wind reports (km/h)

Nova Scotia: 

Halifax Airport 117

Beaver Island 111

Brier Island 109

Lunenburg 109

Baccaro Point 107

New Brunswick:

Saint John 85

Grand Manan 83

Prince Edward Island:

Harrington 86

Charlottetown 83

b. Rainfall.

Rainfall warnings were in effect for parts of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Gaspe Peninsula, Anticosti Island and portions of the Quebec Lower North Shore. Amounts over 100 mm were expected with indications that areas northwest of the track (Fundy region and parts of New Brunswick and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence regions) would receive the highest amounts.

Rainfall reports (mm)

Nova Scotia:

Sluice Point 84

Port Maitland 80

Yarmouth 76

Kentville 70

Upper Ohio 68

Aldersville 63

Baccaro Point 60

New Brunswick:

Chamcook 118

Grand Manan 109

Fredericton 70-121

Grand Harbour 99

St. Stephen 91

Doaktown 88

Point Lepreau 85

Prince Edward Island:

no significant rainfall measured

c. Surge/Waves.

Large waves of 5 to 7 metres spread to the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia by Saturday morning, that along with the high tide produced some coastal flooding. The wave action diminished Saturday night.

Halifax Harbour buoy data:

Peak winds southeast 35 knots with gust to 49

Significant waves 3 to 8 metres

Peak wave 16 metres at 1 pm

Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Tide gauge/Water level Observation at 1049 am Saturday 2.539 m

Flooding stage 2.7 m

Observation minus Prediction 0.715

 

3. Marine weather impacts.

Storm force winds spread to the waters south and east of Lee's track. Significant wave heights of 5 to 10 meters impacted the marine district early Saturday. These wave gradually diminished later Saturday.

Lahave Bank buoy data:

Peak winds south 43 knots with gust to 56

Significant waves 6-11 metres

Peak wave 20 metres at 10 am 

Forecaster: Couturier/Tirone

Storm Summary Number 1 for Heavy Rain and High Wind associated

with Lee

NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD

1100 AM EDT Sun Sep 17 2023

...Conditions improve across New England as Post-Tropical Cyclone

Lee tracks through the Canadian Maritimes...

No watches or warnings are currently in effect.

For a detailed graphical depiction of the latest watches, warnings

and advisories, please see www.weather.gov

At 1000 AM EDT...Post-Tropical Cyclone Lee continues a

northeastward track through the Canadian Maritimes. In Lee's wake,

surface observations indicate clear skies and light to gentle

northwesterly winds across New England.

...Selected preliminary Peak Wind gusts in miles per hour earlier

in the event...

...MAINE...

PERRY 6 NNW                            83                    

ROQUE BLUFFS 24 SSE                    63                    

CRIEHAVEN 3 SE                         56                    

AUGUSTA                                52                    

...MASSACHUSETTS...

CHAPIN                                 62                    

DENNIS                                 59                    

BOSTON-LOGAN INTL AIRPORT              42                    

...NEW HAMPSHIRE...

MT WASHINGTON                          85                    

...Selected preliminary Storm Total Rainfall in inches where the

event has ended...

...MAINE...

WHITING 1 SSE                        6.25                    

PERRY 3.8 NNW                        6.06                    

LUBEC 4.1 W                          5.42                    

COOPER                               4.49                    

SULLIVAN 2.4 SSE                     3.58                    

HOULTON 2.5 NNW                      2.54                    

CARIBOU                              2.14                    

BANGOR                               2.02                    

Conditions over land will continue to improve today as Lee pulls

away to the northeast. However, dangerous and life-threatening rip

currents will continue to affect the U.S. East Coast through

Monday. For more information regarding the forecast for Lee,

please visit nhc.noaa.gov.

This will be the last Storm Summary issued by the Weather

Prediction Center for this event. Please refer to your local

National Weather service office for additional information.

Asherman

Weather summary

for Nova Scotia

issued by Environment Canada

at 3:23 a.m. ADT Sunday 17 September 2023.

Discussion.

The following area set a daily maximum temperature record on 

September 16, 2023: 

Cheticamp Area (Cheticamp Highlands National Park) 

New record of 26.0 

Old record of 24.3 set in 2003 

Records in this area have been kept since 1956 

Note: the temperature record reported here has been derived from a 

selection of historical stations in this geographic area that were 

active during the period of record.

Please note that this summary may contain preliminary or unofficial 

information and does not constitute a complete or final report.

End/ASPC

Weather summary

for New Brunswick

issued by Environment Canada

at 4:00 p.m. ADT Sunday 17 September 2023.

Discussion.

The Maritimes were affected by post-tropical storm Lee this weekend. 

Rain, wind, and high surf affected many areas on Saturday. Below is 

a summary of weather information received by Environment Canada as 

of Sunday at 2 pm ADT. 

1. Summary of peak wind gusts in km/h: 

Longs Eddy point - on Grand Manan Island (unofficial) 150 

Saint John 85 

Grand Manan 83 

2. Summary of event-total rainfall in mm from EC weather stations: 

St. Stephen 91 

Doaktown 88 

Point Lepreau 85 

3. Summary of event-total rainfall in mm from CoCoRaHS volunteer 

network: 

Hanwell 121.1 

Chamcook 117.6 

Grand Harbour 99.3 

Fredericton 95.3 

Pennfield Ridge 93.4 

White Head 85.1 

New Maryland 85.1 

More data will be added to this report as it becomes available.

Please note that this summary may contain preliminary or unofficial 

information and does not constitute a complete or final report.

End/ASPC

Weather summary

for Nova Scotia

issued by Environment Canada

at 3:55 p.m. ADT Sunday 17 September 2023.

Discussion.

The Maritimes were affected by post-tropical storm Lee this weekend. 

Rain, wind, and high surf affected many areas on Saturday. Below is 

a summary of weather information received by Environment Canada as 

of Sunday at 2 pm ADT. 

1. Summary of peak wind gusts in km/h: 

Halifax (Int'l Airport) 117 

Beaver Island 111 

Brier Island 109 

Lunenburg 109 

Baccaro Point 107 

2. Summary of event-total rainfall in mm: 

Port Maitland 80 

Cedar Lake 77.5 

Lower West Pubnico 63 

Yarmouth 59.7 

Bear River 59.4 

More data will be added to this report as it becomes available.

Please note that this summary may contain preliminary or unofficial 

information and does not constitute a complete or final report.

End/ASPC

Weather summary

for Quebec

issued by Environment Canada

at 10:54 a.m. EDT Sunday 17 September 2023.

Discussion.

Post-tropical storm Lee gave significant rainfall amounts over the 

Eastern Gaspé Peninsula since Saturday morning. General rainfall 

amounts of 40 to 55 millimetres have been reported; even 113 

millimetres of rain have been reported in Gaspé. Additional rainfall 

amounts of 10 millimetres are expected today over this region. 

Rain will continue today over the North Shore where an additional 20 

to 30 millimetres are expected by this evening.

Please note that this summary may contain preliminary or unofficial 

information and does not constitute a complete or final report.

End/QSPC

Weather summary

for Quebec

issued by Environment Canada

at 10:54 a.m. EDT Sunday 17 September 2023.

Discussion.

Post-tropical storm Lee gave significant rainfall amounts over the 

Eastern Gaspé Peninsula since Saturday morning. General rainfall 

amounts of 40 to 55 millimetres have been reported; even 113 

millimetres of rain have been reported in Gaspé. Additional rainfall 

amounts of 10 millimetres are expected today over this region. 

Rain will continue today over the North Shore where an additional 20 

to 30 millimetres are expected by this evening.

Please note that this summary may contain preliminary or unofficial 

information and does not constitute a complete or final report.

End/QSPC

Weather summary

for Newfoundland

issued by Environment Canada

at 4:18 a.m. NDT Sunday 17 September 2023.

Discussion.

The following area set a daily maximum temperature record on 

September 16, 2023: 

Placentia Area (Argentia (AUT)) 

New record of 24.9 

Old record of 21.7 set in 1971 

Records in this area have been kept since 1945 

Note: the temperature record reported here has been derived from a 

selection of historical stations in this geographic area that were 

active during the period of record.

Please note that this summary may contain preliminary or unofficial 

information and does not constitute a complete or final report.

End/NLWO