Hurricane Lee (2023)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

September 5, 2023 to September 18, 2023

Peak strength

Category 5, 145 kt (167 mph)

Lowest pressure

926 mb (27.34 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

36.7

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

300 nmi (556 km, 345 mi) from the center at its widest

Hurricane-force wind reached

120 nmi (222 km, 138 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

10 nmi (19 km, 12 mi)

Overall size

420 nmi (778 km, 483 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

175 kt (201 mph)

Fastest the center moved

42 kt (48 mph)

Identifier

AL132023

Radar at KCBW as it neared land, Sep 16, 20:00 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

3 (3 direct, 0 indirect)

Injuries

5

Property damage

$17,700

Crop damage

none recorded

Events recorded

51 in 10 reports from 5 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

27 tropical storm, 9 flood, 5 marine tropical storm, 3 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud, 1 high surf, 1 coastal flood, 1 rip current, 1 marine strong wind.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

A media broadcaster reported that Rio Grande de Patillas was out of its banks along road PR-184, near Barrio Jagual and at the other side of El Escondite de Don Claudio. The road remained passable.

Patillas, Puerto Rico · Flood · Sep 14, 18:45 UTC

Broadcast media reports a capsized boat around Manasquan Inlet. The boat was hit with a 10 foot wave as it was approaching Manasquan Inlet.

Eastern Monmouth, New Jersey · High Surf · Sep 15, 00:00 UTC

A social media post showed photos of broken tree limbs from gusty winds of a strong thunderstorm. These limbs were obstructing part of PR-2 near Urb. Colinas and Sector Alto el Cabro. As a result, extensive traffic queues as emergency managers worked to clear the area.

Toa Baja, Puerto Rico · Thunderstorm Wind · Sep 15, 20:18 UTC

In Dennis, there was a tree down on Steven Phillips Rd at Bridge St. A very large tree was down on Corporation Rd at Seaside Ave. Winds were generally gusting 40-50 mph. At 345 aM a WxFlow site gusted to 62 mph which was the strongest gust reported with this storm.

Barnstable, Massachusetts · Tropical Storm · Sep 16, 09:44 UTC

Minor impacts were reported for this event. No inundation flooding was reported, but there was high surf on the Saturday midday high tide cycle as long period 8 to 10 foot swells reached the coast. This caused some minor splash-over and erosion in isolated areas. Northerly wind gusts around 50 mph led to minor to moderate wind impacts as branches and many trees came down, which led to 7000 outages in the county on Saturday afternoon. Power outage rates reached close to 25% of the county. A man was killed while driving when a large tree limb fell on his car. No flooding impacts were reported with rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 being reported.

Coastal Waldo, Maine · Tropical Storm · Sep 16, 13:00 UTC

As Post-Tropical Lee traveled east of the coastal waters, strong northerly offshore winds impacted the coastal waters. The Western Maine Shelf Buoy had a sustained wind of 27kts with a peak gust of 35kts. Two wave sets from the offshore locally generate waves battled the long period swell set from the southeast direction. This led to choppy waters and a peak wave height around 11.6ft.

Cape Elizabeth Me To Merrimack River Ma Out 25 Nm, Atlantic North · Marine Tropical Storm · Sep 16, 13:00 UTC

As Post-Tropical Lee traveled east of the coastal waters, strong northerly offshore winds impacted the coastal waters. The Central Maine Shelf Buoy had a sustained wind of35kts with a peak gust of 45kts. Two wave sets from the offshore locally generate waves battled the long period swell set from the southeast direction. This led to choppy waters and a peak wave height around 8ft.

Stonington Me To Port Clyde Me Out 25 Nm, Atlantic North · Marine Tropical Storm · Sep 16, 13:00 UTC

In Chatham, there was a tree down at the intersection of Pond View Ave and Route 28. Winds were generally gusting 40-50 mph.

Barnstable, Massachusetts · Tropical Storm · Sep 16, 13:43 UTC

Post-Tropical Cyclone Lee brought gusty winds and rain to the region. Wind gusts generally ranged from 35 to 43 knots (40 to 50 mph). A peak wind gust of 47 knots (54 mph) was measured at Houlton. Rainfall generally ranged from 1.25 to 2.25 inches. Snapped branches and trees falling on power lines produced isolated to scattered power outages. No structural damage or flooding occurred. The driver of a vehicle received minor injuries when they were unable to avoid a falling tree which smashed through the windshield. Other passengers were not injured. The incident occurred on Route 11 near Moro Plantation.

Southeast Aroostook, Maine · Tropical Storm · Sep 16, 15:00 UTC

• Unnamed tropical stormNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm60 kt · 976 mb
• Tropical Storm ArleneNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm35 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm BretNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm60 kt · 996 mb
• Tropical Storm CindyNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 1004 mb
• Hurricane DonNorth Atlantic · 2023Cat 165 kt · 986 mb
• Tropical Storm EmilyNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm45 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm GertNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 998 mb
• Hurricane FranklinNorth Atlantic · 2023 · 3 deathsCat 4130 kt · 926 mb
• Tropical Storm HaroldNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 995 mb
• Hurricane IdaliaNorth Atlantic · 2023 · 8 deaths · $3.6 billionCat 4115 kt · 942 mb
• Tropical Storm JoseNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm55 kt · 996 mb
• Tropical Storm KatiaNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 998 mb
• Hurricane MargotNorth Atlantic · 2023Cat 180 kt · 969 mb
• Hurricane NigelNorth Atlantic · 2023Cat 285 kt · 958 mb
• Tropical Storm OpheliaNorth Atlantic · 2023 · $450 millionTropical Storm60 kt · 981 mb
• Tropical Storm PhilippeNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm RinaNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm45 kt · 999 mb
• Tropical Storm SeanNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm40 kt · 1005 mb
• Hurricane TammyNorth Atlantic · 2023Cat 295 kt · 965 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Depression25 kt · 1007 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Depression30 kt · 1004 mb

A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Best track as KMZ, National Hurricane Center
• Best track as a shapefile, National Hurricane Center
• Wikipedia article: Hurricane Lee