Hurricane Lee: Latest forecast and spaghetti models as storm is expected to rapidly intensify - The Independent

Hurricane Lee tracker: Latest forecast and spaghetti models as storm is expected to rapidly intensify | The Independent

Hurricane Lee rapidly strengthening as it churns towards Caribbean islands: Live

Lee is the 12th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season

Stuti Mishra,
Louise Boyle Comments

Hurricane Lee was rapidly strengthening on Thursday as it churned towards Caribbean islands with “life-threatening” conditions expected to develop in the coming days.

Hurricane Lee is about 965 miles (1555km) east of the northern Leeward Islands, according to the 5am (eastern time) report from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) with maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour (130 kph).

“Rapid intensification is expected to begin later today, and Lee is forecast to become a major hurricane by early Friday,” NHC reported.

The Leeward Islands is the name for the group of islands located where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean and includes Puerto Rico, the US and British Virgin Islands, and Antigua and Barbuda.

Current projections show Hurricane Lee will not make landfall but pass north of the British Virgin Islands, which is still recovering from hurricanes Maria and Irma in September 2017.

Lee is the 12th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
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Hurricane Lee: The latest update

Hurricane Lee was about 870 miles (1405km) east of the northern Leeward Islands with winds of 105mph (165km/h), according to the 11am (eastern) update from the National Weather Service.

The hurricane is expected to rapidly intensify through today and this evening.

Hurricane-force winds are extending outwards for 25 miles (35km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km).

Swells generated by Lee are expected to reach portions of the Lesser Antilles on Friday, and reach the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Bahamas, and Bermuda this weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
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Watch: Hurricane Lee rapidly strengthening
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‘Above normal'

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration warned in August that this year’s season would produce an above-normal number of storms. Between 14 to 21 named storms are forecast. Of those, six to 11 could become hurricanes, with two to five of them possibly becoming major hurricanes, the agency said.

Meanwhile, AccuWeather updated its forecast, predicting there would be three to five hurricanes Category 3 or stronger this season, compared with one to three in its previous analysis.

AP
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Forecasters in Puerto Rico issue a warning

The National Weather Service office in San Juan issued a warning over the approaching Hurricane Lee on Thursday.

The hurricane currently has sustained winds of 80mph but those are forecast to increase. It’s possible that the hurricane reaches a Category 4 or 5 strength.

The forecast shows the cyclone tracking north of Puerto Rico but the island can still expect hazardous marine conditions, showers from external bands and gusty winds near strong showers, NWS said.
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Watch: Hurricane Lee to keep intensifying in the days to come
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Rip current warnings

Swells generated by Hurricane Lee are expected to reach the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Bahamas, and Bermuda this weekend.

The rapidly-intensifying hurricane is forecast to generate swells likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
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Pictured: Hurricane Lee from space

Hurricane Lee was captured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite on Thursday as it spins towards the Leeward Islands.

Hurricane Lee seen by satellite spinning towards the Lesser Antilles islands in the Caribbean
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‘Potential powerhouse'

Hurricane Lee is shaping up to be an extremely dangerous hurricane, forecasters warned on Thursday.

“It has the potential to become a powerhouse Category 5 hurricane, the strongest hurricane of the year,” said Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist for AccuWeather.

It is expected to develop into an “extremely dangerous” major hurricane by early Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center, which noted the storm was moving over very warm water and in a moist environment.

The Associated Press

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Dangerous swells, rip currents expected

Large swells are likely to reach portions of the Lesser Antilles on Friday, according to forecasters.

The Lesser Antilles are a long arc of small islands in the Caribbean Sea which extends from the British and US Virgin Islands to Grenada.

Map of the Caribbean with insert detail of the Lesser Antilles
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