Hurricane Lee, a Category 3 hurricane in the southwestern Atlantic, has sustained winds of 120 mph, according to the latest study. Hurricane Lee continues to advance across the Atlantic Ocean, and severe surf and rip currents have begun throughout most of the U.S. East Coast and will increase this week.
Hurricane Lee will create hazardous conditions along the East Coast (Source: Sky News)
Hurricane Lee 120mph Sustained Winds Could Get Stronger
Hurricane Lee, a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, has 120 mph sustained winds and stronger gusts as of the last NHC advisory. Land is included in Lee’s prediction cone for the first time. The extreme northern border of the forecast cone now includes Nantucket, Massachusetts. Although the violent hurricane is moving away from the Caribbean Islands, severe surf and rip currents have hit the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico. These circumstances will expand to Hispaniola, Turks & Caicos, the Bahamas, and Bermuda in the next few days.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported 10–15-foot waves and life-threatening rip currents in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Boating, fishing, beachgoing, and water activities pose risks, according to the government. “We worry about boaters underestimating the storm’s impact,” said Capt. José E. Díaz, Coast Guard Sector San Juan (Puerto Rico) commander. “Projected sea states of 10 to 15 feet severely reduce our ability to respond to a maritime distress with full resources.”
As steering currents weaken, Lee is predicted to move slowly, but severe surf and rip currents will remain along the Eastern Seaboard this week. Cape Hatteras beachgoers have been warned of severe conditions this week. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore Facebook page advises visitors to avoid ocean swimming until circumstances improve. CHNS said on Facebook that “large breaking waves, life-threatening rip currents, beach erosion, ocean overwash, and coastal flooding are all possible.” “Dangerous conditions will continue this weekend.”
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Hurricane Lee’s Rapid Increase of Strong Winds
FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross expects Hurricane Lee to track between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda, although its northern route is unknown. Some computer models anticipate Hurricane Lee to linger offshore of the Eastern Seaboard, although the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coasts may still suffer repercussions. Monitoring future projections is advised. The jet stream drop will pass Hurricane Lee on Friday, allowing a modest bubble of high pressure north of the cyclone to impact its route before another dip “Norcross announced. Lee may be redirected to New England by the feeble high. All this may make Lee’s track S-shaped. The bends are minor currently, but zigging to the left would increase winds along or over the shoreline in regions of the Northeast, New England, and Atlantic Canada.”
Hurricane Lee is rushing from Category 1 to Category 5 in 24 hours. On Thursday, the storm intensified rapidly from a Category 1 hurricane at 80 mph Wednesday night to a Category 5 monster at 165 mph. Only 13 Category 5 storms have formed east of the Caribbean, including Hurricane Lee. Friday’s wind shear weakened the storm to a Category 3. Lee became a significant hurricane Sunday afternoon after weakening to Category 2 on Saturday. As it gently swirls in the Southwestern Atlantic, Lee should intensify.
Hurricane Lee is 365 miles north of the northern Leeward Islands and 615 miles south of Bermuda, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is slowing over the southern Atlantic as it heads northwest. Lee may intensify during the following day before weakening, according to the NHC. The NHC reports Lee moving northwest near 8 mph, and a sluggish west-northwest to northwest motion is forecast over the following four days, followed by a northward shift by midweek.
Hurricane Lee is forecasted to pass west of Bermuda in a few days on its present course. No landmasses are under watch or warning, although the NHC advises Bermuda interests to track Hurricane Lee. Hurricane Lee reduced in strength Friday and early Saturday, but forecasts predict it may recover Category 4 status early this week if atmospheric conditions are right.
READ ALSO: Hurricane Lee Could Possibly Moving Towards US Shoreline
