UPDATE: WEATHER ADVISORY: Post-Tropical Cyclone Advisory - Tracking Hurricane Lee

UPDATED September 16, 2023 – (Truro, MA) – The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) downgraded Hurricane Lee to a post-tropical cyclone as of Saturday morning September 16, 2023.

The storm passed southern New England and is no longer producing tropical storm force winds; however, a High Surf Advisory will remain in effect until 8 a.m. Sunday, September 17, 2023. Dangerous surf with large breaking waves will occur along the Truro oceanside beaches with dangerous rip currents through tomorrow morning. Gusty northwest winds from 30 to 35 mph will persist through midnight tonight.

All Town of Truro beaches will be closed to swimming during this time. Jersey barriers have been placed at both Longnook Beach and Ballston Beach and additional signage is posted. Truro can rest assured that the worst of the storm is now behind us, and we are fortunate to have avoided widespread power outages and coastal damage. For those who do not have power, please contact Eversource and report your outage. The Truro Public Library is also open to the public and serving as a charging station from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We ask those who are interested in viewing the storm action to be careful and remain vigilant while abiding by all signage and precautions taken by the Truro Emergency Management Team.

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UPDATED September 15, 2023 - (Truro, MA) – The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) upgraded Hurricane Lee to a Tropical Storm Warning for Truro and coastal New England effective Friday, September 15, 2023, through Saturday, September 16, 2023. The height of the storm is expected late Friday evening through Saturday afternoon with strong winds of 30 to 40 mph and gusts up to 60 mph.

Damaging winds may result in broken tree limbs and downed power lines. Eversource has activated its Emergency Operations Centers for the duration of the storm event. To sign up for alerts and to report an outage, visit the Eversource website: Outage and Storm Status | Eversource. Additionally, unless conditions for travel become unsafe, the Truro Public Library, located at 7 Standish Way, North Truro, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday to serve as a charging station in the event of power outages.

The annual non-profit organization’s Truro Treasures weekend has made some cancelations and changes to its schedule. For more information about the event, please visit the Truro Treasures website: Events — Truro Treasures. Additionally, New England Endurance Event's SwimRun Cape Cod event scheduled to take place in Truro on Saturday, September 16, 2023, was canceled, as was the Second Summer Cycle Cape Cod Charity Ride scheduled to take place in Truro on Sunday, September 17, 2023.

A Coastal Flood Warning is also in effect starting at midnight and ending at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2023. All Town of Truro beaches along the oceanside will be closed to swimming during this time. Jersey barriers have been placed at both Longnook Beach and Ballston Beach and additional signage is being posted today. Portable restrooms will be removed by the vendor today and will be reinstalled after the storm event as appropriate.

The Truro Emergency Management Team will continue to provide timely updates to the public as information becomes available. To receive emergency alerts, please sign up for ALERTruro: Sign Up - Smart911. Additionally, paddle craft owners are encouraged to secure or store their paddle craft and mark them with their name and contact information in case they get lost. Storms can cause unsecured paddle craft to break loose, which may result in search and rescue cases.

Hurricane Lee's trajectory is forecasted to move offshore of southern New England on Saturday, but its effects will extend beyond its center, bringing rough surf, damaging winds, and the potential for flooding in low-lying areas.

The Truro Emergency Management Team continues to encourage the public to take the following precautions:

Secure and move any loose or lightweight outdoor objects outside.
Charge your cell phone, other electronic devices, and backup power sources.
Have stored water available (and/or fill your bathtub with water that can be used for flushing toilets).
Pay attention to warnings and advice from local and state officials.

Over the weekend, the Truro Fire & Rescue Department, Truro Police Department, and Public Works Department will have increased staffing levels. For non-emergency assistance, the public can reach out to Public Safety at (508) 487-8730. In the event of an emergency, please dial 9-1-1 for immediate assistance.

*Please see the previous press release for more information on hurricane preparedness.

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September 14, 2023 (Truro, MA) –The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Truro and coastal New England effective through Saturday, September 16, 2023. Hurricane Lee is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rain, and the potential for power outages with the most severe weather predicted for late Friday into Saturday.

The Town of Truro Emergency Management Team is actively monitoring and preparing for this weather event and encourages citizens to prepare as well. The current projection indicates that the window for peak tropical storm force winds (ranging from 35 to 45 mph with gusts of up to 70 mph) will commence on Friday evening, persisting throughout Saturday afternoon.

Hurricane Lee's trajectory is forecasted to take it offshore of southern New England on Saturday, but its effects will extend beyond its center, bringing rough surf, damaging winds, and the potential for flooding in low-lying areas. Bands of heavy rain may result in flash flooding with a predicted two to four inches expected to fall in a short period. This heightened precipitation could lead to areas of inundation.

Additionally, NOAA has issued a Storm Surge Watch for our coastal communities. Ocean beaches are likely to produce dangerous rip currents, large swells, and significant beach erosion. Mariners should be especially cautious, as rough seas will pose a significant hazard.

As always, preparedness is of paramount importance for the Town of Truro. The Truro Emergency Management Team will continue to monitor this event and adjust response plans as needed and will provide updates to the community as the situation evolves. The Truro Public Library, located at 7 Standish Way, North Truro, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday to serve as a charging station in the event of power outages.

We recommend that all residents and visitors:

Secure and move any loose or lightweight outdoor objects outside.
Charge your cell phone, other electronic devices, and backup power sources.
Have stored water available (and/or fill your bathtub with water that can be used for flushing toilets).
Pay attention to traffic warnings and advice from local and state officials.

The following resources on hurricane preparedness may also help you prepare for this or future events:

Truro Emergency Management – Storm Preparedness

Truro Emergency Management – Emergency Kit

National Weather Service – National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)