Megan Hayes | News Editor
As we’re transitioning into the fall, changes in weather are excitedly anticipated. However, while waiting for the wonderful chilly temperatures and beautiful colored leaves of Connecticut to show, residents were met with something else. This past week, many students and faculty on Eastern’s campus watched the sky open up from inside academic and dorm buildings, with tremendous amounts of water quickly flooding the sidewalks of campus. Soon after, word came out that the northeast of the United States would be getting a visit from a Hurricane.
Although rain is no foreign feat for Connecticut, our ridiculous amounts of rain (which are unrelated to our incoming weather) may have warned some of us that we may not be completely prepared for Hurricane Lee, which will be making its way into New England this weekend. Typically, hurricanes form from warm and moist weather that pushes up into the atmosphere, typically over bodies of water like oceans, swirling into a bigger storm that eventually makes its way to land. Let’s take a look at what this means for this weekend and how to be prepared.
Hurricane Lee, which is currently defined as a Category 1 hurricane (National Hurricane Center), is likely to pass by Connecticut near the shore. We may not be experiencing immense amounts of rain, but as we know, the forecasts are not always accurate. Other factors, such as wind gusts and cloud covers, are likely to affect us more. The wind gusts, which are currently estimated to be anywhere from 30-80 mph depending on the location within the state (CBS), are likely to knock out power poles and electricity. As well as this, since the hurricane will be striking primarily over the ocean, this will have negative impacts on shoreside residences, possibly creating wild tides for weeks to come. While this is initially attractive to many swimmers and surfers, professionals are warning people to stay away from the beach. Leaders within the tri-state area are already putting procedures into place to reduce any unprepared scenarios. Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York, has started her precautionary measures by calling out members of the National Guard to go to Long Island, which is directly in Lee’s track and will likely be hit with circumstances beyond control (CBS).
As mentioned before, weather reports are not always correct. It is always smart to stay prepared, as there could very well be a course change of Lee, leaving Connecticut vulnerable. Be mindful of stocking up, especially on groceries and necessities, should your power go out or roads become flooded or blocked. It is a good idea to charge devices as well as portable power banks, ensure flashlights and radio powered batteries are ready to go if needed, and ensure that all medical equipment that could possibly be needed is available. Traveling may be best to stay in the books for another weekend, as well. Although the meteorological conditions are planned to be decent for the next seven to ten days, with rainfall planned to hit only the east side of Connecticut, it is always good to stay prepared when dealing with severe weather.
References:
DeAngelis, Jenna. “Hurricane Lee Not Expected to Directly Hit New York, Connecticut or New Jersey, but Storm May Impact Long Island’s Coast.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 15 Sept. 2023, www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/hurricane-lee-not-expected-to-directly-hit-new-york-connecticut-or-new-jersey-but-storm-may-impact-long-islands-coast/. Accessed 15 Sept. 2023.
“Hurricane Lee: What to Expect in Connecticut.” NBC Connecticut, 14 Sept. 2023, www.nbcconnecticut.com/weather-news/hurricane-lee-what-to-expect-in-connecticut/3104348/. Accessed 15 Sept. 2023.
“Technical Discussion: Hurricane Lee Brings Clouds and Some Wind to CT.” Https://Www.Wfsb.Com, 15 Sept. 2023, www.wfsb.com/page/technical-discussion/. Accessed 15 Sept. 2023.