Hurricane Lee brings high surf and rip currents to beaches on Long Island before it's expected to make landfall in Canada
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. -- Hurricane Lee took a swipe at parts of the East Coast Friday, with heavy rain and and strong winds leading to some flooding and potential power outages.
In Bermuda, rain came down and gusty winds shook leaves from the trees Thursday.
By Friday afternoon, we saw some signs of Hurricane Lee in our area.
Jones Beach is already prepared for Lee's impact with berms built up to defend against strong waves closer to the boardwalk and closer to shore.
"We've removed a lot of our lifeguard equipment off the beachfront, garbage cans, things like that. Just, you know, just to to be ready for this storm, so everything's off the beach. We inform the public about the hazards that are out there. We'll red flag the beaches when we don't allow any swimming. That's due to the rough surf," said Jeff Mason, New York State Parks Jones Beach director.
Officials tell CBS New York they have seen waves as high as 8-10 feet, and there are concerns not only about rough surf but about flooding and erosion.
"We've been red flagged for last two days due to rough surfs, and actually, the surf conditions are very high. The waves are like 8 to 10 feet, if not higher, which is not normal," Mason said.
Watch Jennifer McLogan's report
It was pure drama in Southampton. Normally, there would've been fishing vessels and pleasure craft negotiating out of Shinnecock Bay, through the inlet, and into the Atlantic Ocean. But on Friday, thoughts of that - not to mention swimming - were out of the question.
Traversing Dune Road, parallel to the ocean, was nearly impossible. Floodwaters created by the heartpounding offshore Hurricane Lee created a near breach.
"I have declared a localized state of emergency in Hampton Bays-East Quogue area because of the erosion that's occurring," Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said.
- Related: Hurricane Lee's path and timeline: Meteorologists project when and where the storm will hit
The road through the Hamptons abruptly closed. Crews from the town worked hours to repair the washover.
Some braved the jetties, taking a risk. Surfers, except one, all followed the order to come in, the currents and undertow just too much.
Beachwalkers wanted to save a photographic memory of the overwhelming sight.
"Mostly the way the light is hitting the waves, the way of the spray. Just very beautiful," Westhampton Beach resident Christine Corey said.
Commercial fishermen returned to port, and said it would be Tuesday at the earliest for a return to sea.
"Right now, we have a big storm and a big swell. So its just part of the business. Swells come through, we don't fish," fisherman James Kraus said.
Campers are being told to consider pulling out. Erosion is a the big concern, with the relentless pounding.
"Came down this morning to take a look at where we are. It's not looking good. The sea has already reached the dunes," Quogue resident Paul Daniusis said.
- Related: Get the latest forecast and alerts
As the weekend approaches, village mayors on the East End have a warning.
"We pulled the lifeguard stands in the parking lot, warning signs to stay away. You could, knee high, get washed down. So it's a dangerous situation," Quogue Mayor Robert Treuhold said.
Businesses hope the high surf will be a lure.
"Sometimes we get more people who come down to see the big waves, and see how they are crashing on the East End there," Evando Bomtempo said.
The Southampton Book Group isn't stopping, however.
"No. this is where we meet every month, and we called. They were open, so we decided to do it. But we have an abbreviated meeting, because the tide is coming in," Carmela Cicero said.
Multiple town, village, state and county workers with trucks, sand and dirt are standing by for erosion or flooding.
While Hurricane Lee churns toward New England before it's expected to make landfall around Nova Scotia, advisories have been issued for high surf and rip currents, beach erosion and coastal flooding during high tides.
CBS New York's Doug Williams spent the morning in Long Beach on Long Island's South Shore, where 4-7 foot waves crashed along the beach.
Red flags lined the shore to signal that swimming was not allowed, but Williams saw several surfers taking advantage of the swells.
"Definitely need to be an advanced surfer, but we're excited to give it a run," said one surfer.
"We've got to be a little careful and come up with our hands over our heads, so the boards don't fly in the air and hit us," another added.
Another beachgoer told Williams the last time he saw waves this big was Superstorm Sandy.
"I came out here during Sandy, and this looks pretty similar," Tim Odom said.
Swimming is not allowed at Jones Beach and Hempstead beaches throughout the weekend, and lifeguards will be on patrol to make sure people stay safe and stay out of the water.
"We didn't expect rain, we expected significant increases in tides throughout the South Shore, and we were proven correct. We have water coming literally up to the steps of the beaches where generally you'd have to walk several hundred feet, so it's paid off," Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin said.
Clavin isn't taking any chances; Hempstead has already issued a warning to residents about flooding and started building berms days ago to defend against the waves.
"This combination of the storms coming to the region are gonna decimate our South Shore beaches, really from the Queens border all the way out to Montauk," he said. "We are telling those residents in the South Shore areas -- Island Park, Point Lookout, East Rockaway and Freeport -- pay attention. There could be potential flooding."
Southampton issued a state of emergency through 3 a.m. Sunday.
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