Due to the effects from Hurricane Lee to affect New England and Atlantic Canada September 2023, you may want to consider delaying your travel — or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to the weather — if the coast from eastern Rhode Island to eastern Nova Scotia are in your travel plans over the next few days.
Hurricane Lee to Affect New England and Atlantic Canada: September 2023 Travel Alert
Maximum sustained winds of Hurricane Lee — which is currently approximately 490 miles south southwest of Halifax and moving north at a speed of 20 miles per hour — are at 80 miles per hour, which means that it is currently a Category 1 hurricane; and Hurricane Lee is expected to gradually weaken to strong tropical storm as it takes a path toward western Nova Scotia, where landfall is expected to occur as soon as the early afternoon hours of tomorrow, Saturday, September 16, 2023.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- New Brunswick from the border which the United States shares with Canada to Point Lepreau — including Grand Manan Island
- Nova Scotia from Digby to Ecum Secum
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Westport in Massachusetts northward to the border which the United States shares with Canada
- Martha’s Vineyard
- Nantucket
- New Brunswick from the border which the United States shares with Canada to Fort Lawrence — including Grand Manan Island
- New Brunswick from Shediac to Tidnish
- Nova Scotia from Fort Lawrence to Point Tupper
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- Prince Edward Island
- Magdalen Islands
- New Brunswick from Belledune to Shediac
- Nova Scotia from Tidnish to Aulds Cove
- Nova Scotia from Aulds Cove to Meat Cove to Point Tupper
A dangerous storm surge of up to three feet is expected from the borough of Queens in New York to the border which the United States shares with Canada. As much as five inches of rain could fall in local areas in eastern Maine, western Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
Dangerous rough surf and strong rip currents from Hurricane Lee are currently affecting most of the east coast of the United States. Extreme southeastern Massachusetts has already begin to experience the winds of this tropical system.
In addition to the east coast of the United States and the Maritime provinces of Canada, swells from Hurricane Lee are also generating life-threatening surf and strong rip currents for portions of the Lesser Antilles, the British Virgin Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda.
Shortly after landfall is expected to occur in western Nova Scotia, another landfall of what is likely to be Tropical Storm Lee is expected to occur along the southern coast of New Brunswick as soon as the late evening hours of Saturday, September 16, 2023. A third landfall could occur in Labrador in the late afternoon hours of Sunday, September 17, 2023.
Flight Waivers, Delays, and Cancellations
If you are traveling to or from the New England area of the United States and the Canadian Maritime provinces over the next few days, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to this tropical weather system which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.
If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary. If you are driving in any of these areas, watch out for deteriorating weather conditions and traffic problems.
Here are ten airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this tropical weather system:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Halifax and seven airports in five states for Saturday, September 16, 2023 through Sunday, September 17, 2023; and Friday, September 22, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Bermuda for Thursday, September 14, 2023 through Friday, September 15, 2023; and Monday, September 18, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for:
- Bangor, Boston, Portland, and Providence for Saturday, September 16, 2023 through Sunday, September 17, 2023; and Wednesday, September 20, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Bermuda for Thursday, September 14, 2023 through Friday, September 15, 2023; and Monday, September 18, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for seven airports in four states for Saturday, September 16, 2023 through Sunday, September 17, 2023; and Sunday, September 24, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for Boston, Manchester, Portland, and Providence for Saturday, September 16, 2023 through Sunday, September 17, 2023; and Sunday, October 1, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- JetBlue Airways has issued travel alerts for:
- Boston, Portland, and Providence for Friday, September 15, 2023 through Sunday, September 17, 2023; and Friday, September 21, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket for Friday, September 15, 2023 through Sunday, September 17, 2023; and Friday, September 21, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Bermuda for Thursday, September 14, 2023 through Friday, September 15, 2023; and Tuesday, September 19, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Sun Country Airlines has issued travel alerts for Boston, Portland, and Providence for Saturday, September 16, 2023 through Sunday, September 17, 2023; and Sunday, September 24, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Air Canada has issued travel alerts for:
- Five airports in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia for Friday, September 15, 2023 through Sunday, September 17, 2023.
- Bathurst, Charlottetown, and Îles-de-la-Madeleine for Saturday, September 16, 2023 through Sunday, September 17, 2023.
- Boston for Friday, September 15, 2023 through Saturday, September 16, 2023.
- Bermuda for Saturday, September 16, 2023.
- WestJet Airways has issued travel alerts for Halifax, Moncton, and Charlottetown for Friday, September 15, 2023 through Sunday, September 17, 2023.
- Porter Airlines has issued travel alerts for Boston and five airports in four provinces for Sunday, September 17, 2023 through Tuesday, September 19, 2023.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Bangor, Boston, Portland, and Providence for Saturday, September 16, 2023 through Sunday, September 17, 2023; and Wednesday, September 20, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Bermuda for Thursday, September 14, 2023 through Friday, September 15, 2023; and Monday, September 18, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
Final Boarding Call
Be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.
Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce of the United States.
