Hurricane Lee is moving north off the US East Coast, threatening to bring more rain and storms to a region already reeling from the effects of heavy rainfall.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills declared a state of emergency Thursday as the state enters a hurricane watch for the first time in 15 years.
This watch is active for eastern Maine. The remainder of the state and areas south through Massachusetts are under a tropical storm warning.
In Maine, winds of up to 70 mph were expected to reach the area Friday morning.
“Heavy rainfall from Lee may cause local urban and small river flooding across eastern New England and parts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia from Friday night into Saturday night,” the National Hurricane Center said.
Gov. Mills asked President Biden for a retroactive presidential disaster declaration that would make more federal resources available to respond to extreme weather.
Parts of the northeast declared a state of emergency this week after heavy rains caused flooding, prompting rescue and evacuation orders from areas near risky earthen dams.
Areas of Massachusetts and Rhode Island received 10 inches of rain within 6 hours on Tuesday.
In Leominster, north of Boston. Mayor Dean Mazzarella said most buildings in the downtown area were flooded and some had collapsed.