Forecasters say Hurricane Lee will transition from a Category 1 hurricane to a post-tropical storm when it makes landfall late tomorrow night.
But meteorologists say it will remain a threat because it will expand and maintain much of its strength across an area expected to extend 300 kilometres from its centre.
The agency has issued hurricane watches for counties in southwestern Nova Scotia, while most of mainland Nova Scotia is under a Tropical Storm Warning, along with separate wind and rainfall warnings.
But in PEI, Environment Canada has not issued any warnings or watches to this point. We’ll see heavy rain at times through the day Saturday after it begins Saturday morning. Those periods of rain will continue through Sunday as well. We could see as much as 50mm of rain over the two days. Upwards of 60 to 80kh winds are expected for PEI, and that is strong enough that with the foliage on the trees, and saturated ground, we could see trees or branches bring down some power lines and cause some power outages.
The Province held an update Thursday on the potential impact of Hurricane Lee, and is encouraging Islanders to be prepared and review their emergency plans ahead of the weekend.
PEI’s Emergency Measures Organization says it has activated to a level 1 response at this point, which is basically Enhanced Monitoring of the hurricane.
Officials say that extra shelter beds have been put in place in Charlottetown, Montague, and Summerside. EMO is also finalizing locations for reception centres.
You’re being encouraged to:
- make a household emergency plan;
- update your preparedness kits, with extra food, pet supplies, water, masks and hygiene products;
- bring in or tie down outdoor furniture or equipment;
- ensure you have fuel for generators and vehicles, as well as propane for your barbecue;
- replacing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Parks Canada says visiting PEI National Park during the hurricane is strongly discouraged for safety reasons. It points to limited emergency services, plus a number of hazards such as potential danger from rip currents, downed trees and localized flooding as well as potential coastal and cliff erosion. Parks Canada also advises that it’s taking some steps to prevent damage. That includes removing the accessibility ramps from Cavendish and Brackley beaches; as well as temporarily removing beach stairs throughout PEI National Park beaches.
Canadian Blood Services is asking those Islanders who have an appointment heading into the weekend to donate blood, to please keep that appointment. If you can get to the Charlottetown donor centre on Fitzroy Street before the storm hits, they encourage you to do so to ensure hospitals have blood on hand over the coming days. Appointments can be made on Blood.ca or on the Give Blood app, and they have many same-day appointments.
