Hurricane Lee may grow to be first Category 5 storm of the Atlantic season, forecasters warn

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Hurricane Lee whirled by way of open waters on Thursday as forecasters warned it may grow to be the primary Category 5 storm of the Atlantic season.

Lee was not anticipated to make landfall whereas on a projected path that may take it close to the northeast Caribbean, though forecasters stated tropical storm circumstances are potential on some islands. Meteorologists stated it was too early to offer particulars on potential rainfall and wind gusts.

The Category 4 hurricane was positioned about 780 miles (1,260 kilometers) east of the northern Leeward Islands. It had winds of as much as 130 miles per hour (215 kilometers per hour) and was shifting west-northwest at 15 mph (24 kph).

The storm was anticipated to develop much more highly effective late Thursday and stay a significant hurricane into subsequent week.

“Lee continues to strengthen at an exceptional rate,” the National Hurricane Center stated.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday was given the hurricane’s newest trajectory and particulars of preparations underway by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, which deployed unidentified property to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, in keeping with the White House.

Life-threatening surf was anticipated to hit the Lesser Antilles on Friday and attain the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Bahamas and Bermuda this weekend, the middle stated.

“We will see waves between 10 and 15 feet (3 and 5 meters), so we don’t want anyone on the beaches,” stated Ernesto Morales with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The National Hurricane Center stated harmful surf and rip currents had been forecast for a lot of the U.S. East Coast beginning Sunday.

Lee is the twelfth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 and peaks in September.

Tropical Storm Margot grew to become the thirteenth named storm after forming on Thursday night. It was positioned some 290 miles (465 kilometers) west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. It had winds of as much as 40 mph (65 kph) and was forecast to strengthen right into a hurricane over the weekend. It was shifting west-northwest at 17 mph (28 kph) and is anticipated to stay over open water.

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration in August forecasted between 14 to 21 named storms this season, with six to 11 of them anticipated to grow to be hurricanes, and of these, two to 5 probably growing into main hurricanes.

In the Pacific, Hurricane Jova churned by way of open waters removed from Mexico’s southwest coast as a Category 4 storm. It posed no menace to land.