Hurricane Lee updates: FSU vs. Boston College on as scheduled as storm looms

After a 2-0 start to the season, No. 3 Florida State is set to take on the Boston College Eagles on the road this weekend in the Seminoles’ ACC opener.

With Hurricane Lee looming off the East Coast there’s potential for the storm to affect the game on multiple levels, from game plan to possible delays or rescheduling. As of publication, there are no indications from the universities or conference that the game will affected.

The game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start from Chestnut Hill, which is 10 miles from Boston.

From NBC10 Boston:

The updated forecast cone suggested the storm was not likely to make landfall in any part of New England other than eastern Maine, if at all.

While Hurricane Lee isn’t expected to make landfall in southern New England, the storm surge could be dangerous, especially where it combines with large, destructive waves.

The National Weather Service said the storm could also drop 1-4 inches of rain on eastern New England, which was already reeling from flooding that caused heavy localized damage.

Florida State is no stranger to games being affected by hurricanes — in 2017, the Seminoles saw a 21-day delay between its season opener vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide and their second game of the season against the NC State Wolfpack, with a matchup against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks canceled and its game against the Miami Hurricanes delayed to October 7, because of Hurricane Irma. In 2019, a neutral site matchup vs. the Boise State Broncos in Jacksonville was moved to Tallahassee because of Hurricane Dorian.

As the game approaches, we’ll be offering updates on the latest track of the storm and any potential announcements from FSU, Boston College or the ACC.

Latest National Hurricane Center Update

Sept. 14, 2 p.m.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Stonington, Maine to the U.S./Canada border, New Brunswick from the U.S./Canada border to Point Lepreau, including Grand Manan Island, and Nova Scotia from Digby to Medway Harbour.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Bermuda, Massachusetts coast from Woods Hole to Hull, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Watch Hill, Rhode Island to Woods Hole Massachusetts, Block Island, North of Hull Massachusetts to Stonington Maine, New Brunswick from north of Point Lepreau to Fort Lawrence, Nova Scotia west coast from north of Digby to Fort Lawrence, and Nova Scotia southeast coast from north of Medway Harbour to Porter’s Lake.

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

At 2:00 PM AST (1800 UTC), Hurricane Lee’s center was identified at approximately latitude 31.0 North and longitude 68.4 West. Lee is currently moving north at a speed of 14 mph (22 km/h). This northward trajectory is expected to continue, with an anticipated increase in forward speed through Saturday. A subsequent shift towards the north-northeast and then northeast is forecasted for Saturday night and Sunday. On its projected path, the center of Lee is forecasted to pass to the west of Bermuda this evening, approach the coasts of New England and Atlantic Canada on Friday and Saturday, and eventually cross Atlantic Canada on Saturday night and Sunday.

Data collected from Air Force Reserve and NOAA reconnaissance aircraft indicate that Hurricane Lee currently sustains maximum sustained winds near 85 mph (150 km/h), accompanied by higher gusts. Although gradual weakening is expected, Lee is anticipated to persist as a large and dangerous hurricane for the next few days.

Lee’s vast size is notable, with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 90 miles (150 km) from its center and tropical-storm-force winds reaching out to 310 miles (500 km). Recent reports from Bermuda include a sustained wind of 39 mph (63 km/h), with a gust reaching 51 mph (81 km/h) at the L.F. Wade International Airport. Additionally, NOAA buoy 41048, located approximately 90 miles (145 km) northwest of Lee’s center, has reported a peak one-minute sustained wind of 54 mph (86 km/h) and a gust reaching 67 mph (107 km/h).

The most recent minimum central pressure, as estimated from reconnaissance aircraft data, is 957 mb (28.26 inches).