Hurricane Lee: Forecasters warn it could possibly be ‘extraordinarily harmful’ with winds of greater than 150mph

Tropical Storm Lee has strengthened right into a class 1 hurricane – and will change into “extremely dangerous” over the weekend because it heads in direction of islands within the Caribbean.

Lee shouldn’t be anticipated to make landfall on a path forecasters imagine will take it close to the northeast of the area.

But the storm is predicted to trigger swells – highly effective waves within the ocean – with Puerto Rico and the British and US Virgin Islands notably beneath menace.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), winds have been whipping round at 80mph on Thursday and “could increase quickly”, with forecasters warning winds might high 150mph.

By Saturday it’s forecast to peak as a significant hurricane, which is outlined as a storm with winds of a minimum of 111mph – class 3.

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

The hurricane is predicted to generate life-threatening swells, with the seas round Puerto Rico probably rising as much as greater than 3m (12ft), in keeping with the National Weather Service within the capital San Juan.

The British Virgin Islands, in the meantime, continues to be recovering from hurricanes Maria and Irma in September 2017.

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There is “increasing confidence” that the attention of the storm is not going to make landfall and can as an alternative cross northwards past Puerto Rico.

The NHC warns there may be nonetheless a 25% likelihood of Puerto Rico and close by islands – together with Bermuda and the Bahamas – experiencing “sustained tropical-storm-force winds.”

“The environment around the cyclone looks ideal for rapid intensification,” the NHC mentioned.

“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.

“Fluctuations in energy are probably from days three to 5 because of potential eyewall replacements, however Lee continues to be anticipated to be a harmful hurricane over the southwestern Atlantic early subsequent week.”

What do the classes imply?

Category 1 – very harmful winds of as much as 95mph that would trigger some injury. Large branches might snap and smaller timber could possibly be uprooted, whereas energy outages are additionally doable.

Category 2 – winds are thought of extraordinarily harmful and might blow as much as 110mph. Houses could possibly be badly broken and energy cuts ought to be anticipated.

Category 3 – devastating injury is predicted, as hurricanes at the moment are outlined as main and winds attain as much as 129mph. Many timber might fall and areas could possibly be with out energy for days and even weeks.

Category 4 – a lot or the impacted areas could possibly be uninhabitable for weeks as catastrophic injury happens. Winds attain as much as 156mph as fallen timber will block roads and isolate residential areas.

Category 5 – as winds high 157mph, energy outages might final for months and there’s a excessive likelihood properties might be destroyed.

Storms might worsen

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration warned in August this yr’s season would see the next variety of storms than regular.

Between 14 to 21 named storms are forecast, with six to 11 of these probably turning into hurricanes and as much as 5 of them even turning into main hurricanes.

AccuWeather has additionally revised forecasts to foretell three to 5 main hurricanes this season, in contrast with one to 3 in its earlier evaluation.

Content Source: information.sky.com