Hurricane Lee’s latest forecast: Storm may approach New England this weekend

(NEW YORK) — Hurricane Lee, which is crawling through the Atlantic Ocean as a major Category 3 storm, might impact coastal New England this weekend.

But regardless of Lee’s path, dangerous rip currents, rough surf, huge waves and beach erosion are expected up and down the East Coast through the week and weekend.

Here’s what you need to know:

Lee will turn north and weaken as it enters cooler waters near Bermuda. The island could see tropical storm conditions Thursday into Friday.

Large waves are ongoing for the coasts in the Caribbean and Southeast U.S.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is sending 50 National Guardsmen to help Long Island prepare for the possible high surf, rip currents, coastal flooding and beach erosion.

“It’s too early to predict what this potentially dangerous weather system will do,” Hochul said in a statement. “Out of an abundance of caution, I have deployed the National Guard and directed state agencies to prepare emergency response assets and be ready to respond to local requests for assistance.”

Most of the spaghetti models show Lee staying offshore of New England and making landfall near the Maine/Canada border on Sunday as a weaker post-tropical storm.

Some models do show Lee moving close enough to coastal New England to bring some rain and wind to the region, but the storm will be much weaker and likely not a hurricane by that time.

The forecast could change in the coming days.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.