Hurricane Lee updates: Storm makes landfall in Nova Scotia as post-tropical cyclone
Tropical storm warnings are in effect in parts of Maine.
Lee made landfall as a post-tropical cyclone in Nova Scotia Saturday afternoon, after downgrading from a Category 1 hurricane.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect for portions of Maine.
Latest headlines:
New Jersey beach town to fine those who go into dangerous surf
As the summer comes to an end, Hurricane Lee is bringing high surf and dangerous rip currents to beaches up and down the East Coast.
In Seaside Heights, New Jersey, beachgoers who go into the ocean without lifeguards present or in unsafe conditions this week could face a fine up to $1,250, city officials warned Thursday.
"STAY OUT, STAY ALIVE," city officials posted on Facebook.
Click here for what you need to know to stay safe from rip currents.
Onboard with hurricane hunters as they fly into the center of Lee
ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee traveled with NOAA researchers as they flew into the center of Hurricane Lee to gather data on the storm.
Lee's latest forecast
Lee, now a Category 2 hurricane, is bringing huge waves -- up to 12 feet -- to the entire East Coast.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for Bermuda where Lee will drop gusty winds and heavy rain on Thursday.
By Friday, Lee will move away from Bermuda and begin to impact New England, where a hurricane watch was issued for Maine.
Powerful winds up to 60 mph could reach Cape Cod, Massachusetts, by Friday night.
On Saturday, the winds and rain will spread into the rest of New England. Boston could see winds up to 60 mph on Saturday morning.
The heaviest rain -- 1 to 3 inches -- will be from Cape Cod to Bar Harbor, Maine.
Landfall is expected Saturday night in Canada, either in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia, near the Maine border. Lee at that point will have weakened to an extra-tropical storm system, but the strong winds will continue for Maine and Canada through Sunday morning.
-ABC News' Max Golembo
What to know
There's an increasing likelihood that Hurricane Lee will bring wind, rain and flooding to coastal New England on Friday and into the weekend.
Lee is forecast to still be hurricane-strength by the time it passes east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on Saturday morning.
Lee could bring strong, gusty winds from Rhode Island to Boston to Maine. The heaviest rain, wind and storm surge will be from Cape Cod to Bar Harbor, Maine, from Friday night through Saturday.
Up to 4 feet of storm surge is possible on Cape Cod and Nantucket.
Hurricane conditions are possible in eastern Maine.
Early Sunday morning, Lee may make landfall between coastal Maine and Nova Scotia as a post-tropical storm. Then Lee will head out to sea.
Huge waves will be main threat for New England on Friday
With Hurricane Lee forecast to get closer to New England by Friday night, huge waves could batter East Coast beaches and coastal communities.
Waves up to 16 feet will be possible in Long Island, New York, on Friday and Saturday.
The National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning from Massachusetts to Maine.
Wind-whipped rain will begin to fall in far southeastern New England near Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard after 9 p.m. ET on Friday and in Boston after midnight.
Lee will push minor storm surge into the coastal Northeast areas, from Long Island to Maine, where water will rise 1 to 3 feet and some minor coastal flooding will be possible.
The worst conditions on Cape Cod and in Boston will be Friday night into Saturday morning with gusty winds, some rain, huge waves and minor coastal flooding.
-ABC News' Max Golembo