Hurricane Lee, a powerful Category 5 storm currently swirling in the Atlantic, is projected to strengthen further as it moves west, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm’s intensity may vary, but it is expected to remain a major hurricane up until early next week. Large ocean swells generated by Hurricane Lee will reach various islands by the weekend, bringing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, warns the agency. However, the storm’s center is likely to pass to the north of those islands.
As of Thursday at 11 p.m. ET, Hurricane Lee had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. Its center was approximately 705 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, and it was moving west-northwest at a speed of 14 mph over the Atlantic Ocean. The long-term track for the storm remains uncertain, as meteorologists closely monitor it for any signs of a shift towards the mainland U.S. coast. CBS News senior weather and climate producer David Parkinson suggests that Lee could weaken and veer towards the U.S., potentially causing stormy weather on the coastal areas.
Alternatively, if a cold front fails to form, Lee might remain at sea until reaching Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, at which point it may be much weaker. Meteorologists are still unsure about the exact path Hurricane Lee will take.
Hurricane Lee has rapidly gained strength, with wind speeds increasing by 15 mph in just a few hours. It has escalated from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane, indicating maximum sustained winds of 157 mph or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Meteorologists classify storms falling within Category 3, 4, or 5 as “major” hurricanes due to their potential to cause significant damage and loss of life. Currently, there are no storm or hurricane watches or warnings in effect for areas potentially in Lee’s path. This comes shortly after Hurricane Idalia wreaked havoc across the Southeast, causing destruction and claiming two lives. The estimated damage and economic loss from Idalia is expected to range between $12 to $20 billion, according to Moody’s Analytics.
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