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.
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Massachusetts declares state of emergency
Massachusetts has joined Maine in declaring a state of emergency as Hurricane Lee approaches.
A tropical storm warning has been issued in the state. The rain will begin Friday night in Massachusetts, starting on Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard after 9 p.m. and reaching Boston after midnight.
"Drivers should plan ahead if traveling during severe weather," Gov. Maura Healey tweeted. "Heavy equipment, pumps and generators are fueled up and ready to be deployed if needed and emergency crews are on standby."
Lee's strong winds to reach New England by Friday afternoon
Lee, now a Category 1 hurricane, is located about 395 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and is threatening the East Coast with huge waves.
A tropical storm warning has been issued from Massachusetts to Maine, and on Friday afternoon, tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or higher are expected to begin in New England.
The rain will begin Friday night in Massachusetts, starting on Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard after 9 p.m. and reaching Boston after midnight.
Lee will bring some minor storm surge Friday night. Waters could rise 1 to 3 feet from Long Island to Maine.
By late Saturday afternoon, Lee is expected to move into Canada, hitting the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia areas as an extra-tropical storm.
By Saturday night, Lee will move away from land.
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
Lee passes Bermuda, gets closer to New England
Hurricane Lee passed to the west of Bermuda late Thursday night, bringing wind gusts of up to 60 mph to the British island territory.
As of 5 a.m. ET on Friday, the eye of the storm was located about 215 miles northwest of Bermuda and 490 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, according to the National Weather Service.
Lee is currently a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained wind speeds of 85 mph. The storm is a wide cyclone with tropical storm winds extending almost 320 miles from the center.
Lee is forecast to continue moving way from Bermuda and get closer to New England by Friday night, according to the National Weather Service.
By Saturday afternoon, Lee is forecast to move into Canada and make landfall somewhere between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as an extra-tropical storm. Lee is expected move away from the United States by Saturday evening.
-ABC News' Max Golembo
What to expect in New England
Hurricane Lee, now a Category 1 storm, is gradually weakening as it churns north through the Atlantic Ocean.
Lee is now about 710 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and is bringing rain and gusty winds to Bermuda.
Over the next two days, Lee will continue to weaken, but will pick up speed as it moves north, parallel to the East Coast.
The rough surf, big waves and dangerous rip currents will persist across a large swath of East Coast beaches through Saturday.
The latest forecast shows Lee's strongest winds staying offshore, so any notable wind impacts will be confined to areas right along the coast.
Rain could start along the New England coast Friday night into Saturday morning. Major flooding is not expected.
The majority of any rain or wind impacts for southeastern New England will be Saturday morning through early Saturday afternoon.
By Saturday evening, rain and winds will be slamming Maine. But most, if not all, impacts from Lee will be over in Maine by mid-morning on Sunday.
A hurricane watch is in effect for portions of the coast of Maine and into Nova Scotia, however, this could be canceled given the diminishing likelihood of any hurricane-force winds on land.
-ABC News' Dan Peck