Photo: National Hurricane Center (NHC) / Courtesy
Hurricane Lee “spiked” in intensity Thursday, strengthening into a Category 5 storm just before 11 p.m. ET, then weakening slightly to a Category 4 on Friday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. (NHC).
The NHC predicted that The powerful hurricane will move well north of the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico and could slow east-northeast of the Bahamas this weekend. The core of the hurricane is expected to move north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the weekend and next weekthe NHC stated on Friday at 5 pm Eastern time.
The NHC said thatLee’s biggest risks in the coming days will be the high seas and dangerous surfand rip currents are expected to begin affecting parts of the northern Caribbean on Friday.
Authorities in Puerto Rico issued an alert because waves between 12 and 15 feet high and strong ocean currents are expected due to the passage of Hurricane Lee to the north of the island.
Sept 8 12:00 PM EDT | The large storm surge caused by Hurricane Lee will begin to impact the Anegada Passage and adjacent waters Saturday morning and reach the Mona Passage early Sunday morning. Beyond Monday, Lee is expected to begin turning NW. https://t.co/aMEjDDo1Sw
— NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) September 8, 2023
“The center of Lee is expected to move well north of the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend and early next week,” indicated the National Weather Service (SNM) in San Juan in the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Puerto Rico’s weather agency also warned that “dangerous breaking waves and life-threatening ocean currents are likely in the northern Leeward Islands beginning today.”
These conditions will spread westward and northward, affecting Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas and Bermuda over the weekend.
Given this, the Coast Guard urged boaters in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to use caution due to deteriorating maritime conditions due to Hurricane Lee.
Keep reading:
– Hurricane Lee reaches category 5; They warn that it could become a “monstrous 180 mph” storm
– Lee becomes a major Category 4 hurricane, risks warn on the east coast of the US.
– Tropical Storm Lee gained intensity and is now a dangerous hurricane in the Atlantic