Danger: Hurricane Lee strengthens to Category 5 storm

Hurricane Lee has become a powerful Category 5 storm, with a destructive maximum sustained winds of 165 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Lee’s winds reached 160 mph by 11 p.m. The powerful hurricane can also get intense by reaching winds of 180 mph by Friday. 

The National Hurricane Center, the division of the United States’ NOAA/National Weather Service, has warned that “dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the U.S. East Coast beginning Sunday.”

The National Hurricane Center said in its ET advisory, “Lee is expected to remain a major hurricane through early next week.”

Hurricane Lee was a Category 1 storm on Thursday. Within a day, Lee became a Category 5 storm. Forecasters also witnessed the exceptional speed of Lee in warm ocean waters.

Hurricane Lee is the fourth hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic season. The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season started in June, and it will end in November. 

Tropical Storms Bret and Cindy developed east of the Caribbean in June. Tropical Storm Harold made rainfall in Texas in August, Franklin made landfall in the Dominican Republic, and Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida.

Hurricane Lee

Hurricane Lee is also the twelfth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. It is intensifying within the span of hours. It is not yet known where it can make landfall. However, it is forecast to move northwest over the open Atlantic Ocean before reaching Florida. According to meteorologists, Hurricane Lee can also curve away from Florida. 

AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said that most beaches in the US can witness stronger surf and dangerous rip by next week. It can also produce storms. Climate change can also affect the frequency of tropical storms. Storms can become more intense with more extreme rainfall.

Hurricane Lee is also expected to become a dangerous hurricane over the southwestern Atlantic. It is not yet known whether Lee can directly impact the US mainland. 

Last month, forecasters said that 2023 can witness 14-21 named storms.