'Lee' Explodes To Category 4 Hurricane
Update (1920ET):
In about a 12-hour timeframe, Hurricane Lee rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
The National Hurricane Center's latest update said, "Lee becomes a category 4 major hurricane. Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents are likely in the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Bahamas and along the east coast of the U.S."
5PM AST Sep 7: #Lee becomes a category 4 major hurricane. Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents are likely in the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Bahamas and along the east coast of the U.S. Visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for the latest pic.twitter.com/Rg0Z5gAAwx
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 7, 2023
Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore said, "Another cat5 on the way... Almost a double rapid intensifier. Impressive to say the least."
Cantore continued, "Still much to be watched into next week as steering sets up. Any potential direct USA impacts would be likely a week away."
Well that didn't take long. #Lee has gone from a 75mph hurricane 24 hours ago to a 130mph beast. Likely another cat5 on the way... Almost a double rapid intensifier. Impressive to say the least. Still much to be watched into next week as steering sets up. Any potential direct… pic.twitter.com/qI3jIv4sOR
— Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) September 7, 2023
Here are the latest spaghetti models of Lee's possible paths.
Cat 5 by tomorrow morning?
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The National Hurricane Center warned Hurricane Lee is intensifying, and computer models suggest it might reach "major hurricane" status by early Friday.
Lee is located 965 miles from the northern Leeward Islands in open waters with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. The Category 1 storm is moving west-northwest at 13 mph.
"The environment around the cyclone looks ideal for rapid intensification. The models are in fairly good agreement that significant strengthening should begin later today and continue into the weekend, when Lee will likely reach its peak intensity," NHC said.
NHC warned, "Fluctuations in strength are likely from days 3 to 5 due to potential eyewall replacements, but Lee is still expected to be a dangerous hurricane over the southwestern Atlantic early next week."
Computer models show Lee "slowing down before making a turn to the north in response to steering currents around it, particularly a dip in the jet stream moving toward the East Coast," said Axios.
Late next week, it's possible that Hurricane Lee tracks close to New England and/or Atlantic Canada.
— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) September 7, 2023
The path out to sea may be blocked by a ridge of high pressure.
A long time to go, but I'd say the trend is not our friend with regard to land impacts 😬
Tracking @ECMWFbot 👇 pic.twitter.com/vNrZOhfSPQ
Possible Cat. 5?
There is a chance that #Lee could be a Cat5 hurricane. We have one in the Pacific now called #Jova which has nearly doubled its wind speed in 24 hours.( 85 to 160mph). No threat to land with Jova. pic.twitter.com/knoCjsdF4c
— Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) September 7, 2023
Axios noted Lee is about "week to 10 days away from a potential threat to the U.S. mainland."
