Post-tropical storm Lee hits Canada’s Nova Scotia with heavy rains; one killed and thousands reeling under darkness

Before making its final landfall late Saturday afternoon in Canada's Nova Scotia, atlantic storm Lee brought with it high winds, rough surf and torrential rains to a large swath of New England and Maritime Canada. The storm also toppled trees, swamped coastlines, cut power to tens of thousands and claiming one life.

In the United States, the tropical storm impacted the whole stretch from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to the eastern end of Maine. That included Bar Harbor, the touristy gateway to Acadia National Park, where a whale watch vessel broke free of its mooring and crashed ashore in front of the College of the Atlantic.

The cyclone's centre came ashore about 135 miles (215 kilometers) west of Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia with sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph).

With sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph), the centre of the post-tropical cyclone came ashore about 135 miles (215 kilometers) west of Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. That’s about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Eastport, Maine, U.S. weather officials said.

The storm was expected to weaken as it moves into New Brunswick and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, forecasters said.

Storm flooded roads, knocked down power lines and trees. It also pushed ferries out of services as it created havoc in the region affected by wild fire and severe flooding this year.

Authorities said the Maine Department and Environmental Protection and the Coast Guard were working to offload 1,800 gallons of diesel fuel to prevent it from spilling into the ocean.

“People are exhausted. ... It’s so much in such a small time period,” said Pam Lovelace, a councilor in Halifax, the capital. “From a mental health perspective, we’re asking people to check in on their neighbors.”

Aftermath of Lee storm: Toppled trees, flooded roadways, power cut

The Atlantic storm Lee left a large swath of New England and Maritime Canada with destructive winds, rough surf and torrential rains. The strong force led to vaste devastation including destructive winds, rough surf and torrential rains that toppled trees, flooded roadways and power cut on Saturday.

The massive storm caused power outages several hundred miles away from its centre. At the middle of Saturday, 11% of electricity customers in Maine witnessed power outage. Other than that area, 27% of Nova Scotia, 8% of New Brunswick and 3% of Prince Island witnessed power outage.

The storm lead to the death of a 51-year-old motorist in Searsport. The deceased man, Maine, was travelling on his two-wheeler vehicle on US Highway 1 during a period of high winds. Immediately a large tree limb fell on his vehicle causing immediate death.

The tree limb brought down live power lines, and utility workers had to cut power before the man could be removed, said Police Chief Brian Lunt. The unidentified man died later at a hospital, Lunt said.

Other than power outage, the storm also resulted in severe waterlogging in areas of Massachusetts. Waterlogging was preceeded by severe flash flooding, when fast water washed out roads, caused sinkholes, damaged homes and flooded vehicles.

In eastern Maine, winds died down enough by late afternoon for utility workers to begin using their bucket trucks to make repairs. Both Central Maine Power and Versant Power had hundreds of workers, including out-of-state crews, to assist in the effort.

Amid the unfavourable rainfall, forecaster urged residents to stay at home. However, many risked their lives and continued to venture out on road.

Destructive hurricanes are relatively rare so far north. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 brought gusts as high as 186 mph (300 kph) and sustained winds of 121 mph (195 kph) at Massachusetts’ Blue Hill Observatory. But there have been no storms that powerful in recent years.