Axios

Hurricane Lee is set to pass dangerously close to eastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine on Friday while making a direct hit in the Canadian Maritimes through Saturday, the National Hurricane Center said.

Threat level: Hurricane Lee is slated to bring tropical storm force winds (39 mph or greater) to southeastern New England beginning Friday afternoon, with hurricane-force winds (74 mph or greater) possible across Downeast Maine and parts of Canada through Saturday.

A month of sweltering conditions drove global ocean and air temperatures to their hottest August in at least 174 years of record-keeping.

Why it matters: The planet's summer of sizzling milestones is a clear indication that 2023 will likely rank at the top of the list of warmest years.