Disaster record
Hurricane Lee (September 2023) — New England
Two years after the disaster 4 deaths $50 million
Summary
Hurricane Lee rapidly intensified to a Category 5 storm over very warm Atlantic water, then weakened and became post-tropical before its closest approach to the United States. On September 16, 2023, it passed about 50 miles from Eastport, Maine, and made landfall on Long Island, Nova Scotia. Wind, coastal flooding, and downed trees cut power across coastal Maine. One person died in Searsport, Maine.
Four people died in the United States, according to the National Hurricane Center. Unchanged through September 16, 2025.
Scientific attribution
Lee drew energy from very warm Atlantic water and intensified quickly. Scientists said storms like this could reach New England more often as the Gulf of Maine warms. That does not mean climate change was the only cause. There was no World Weather Attribution study of this storm.
Sep 16, 2023 · Coastal New England, especially Maine; closest approach about 50 miles from Eastport; landfall in southwestern Nova Scotia as a post-tropical cyclone · hurricane
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Messaging tallies
About these tallies
“Core Democratic Officials reviewed” shows how many of the 54 Core Democratic Officials have been examined for this disaster. Scoring rules: Methods.
Democratic framing
Summary
No Core Democratic Official named this storm in the seven-day window. Climate connection is no. Republican obstruction of climate action is no.
Sen. Ed Markey named Hurricane Lee, the climate crisis, and years of deliberate obstruction at Governor Healey’s press conference on September 15. That was the day before the window opened at noon on the 16th.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse spoke on September 21 about that year’s hurricane season and climate change. He did not name this storm.
Statements
- Ed Markey (U.S. Senator (D-MA)) — Sep 15, 2023 Out of window
Republican framing
No Republican U.S. senator statement naming Hurricane Lee was found. Sen. Susan Collins was in Bangor on September 17 for a first-responder tribute. That event did not name this storm.
Sources
- Tropical Cyclone Report — Hurricane Lee (AL132023) — NOAA / National Hurricane Center
- Q3 Global Catastrophe Recap — Aon
- Thousands without power and 1 dead after Atlantic storm Lee pummels New England and Maritime Canada — Associated Press
- One dead from storm damage as Lee knocks out power, blows over trees across Maine — Portland Press Herald / Sun Journal
- Hurricane Lee targets New England and eastern Canada with wind, roiling seas and rain — Associated Press
- Climate change could bring more monster storms like Hurricane Lee to New England — Associated Press
- Healey declares state of emergency as Hurricane Lee churns north, bringing high waves and wind to coast — WBUR
- Hurricane Lee rapidly intensifying, expected to hit Cat 5 — Yale Climate Connections