Lee has become a hurricane, and is forecast to be come a major hurricane by Saturday.
Current Position/Movement:
LOCATION...14.9N 46.4W
ABOUT 1130 MI...1815 KM E OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...991 MB...29.27 INCHES
There are no watches or warnings currently in effect.
At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lee was located near latitude 14.9 North, longitude 46.4 West. Lee is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue for the next few days with a slight reduction in forward speed over the weekend.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Continued steady to rapid strengthening is forecast, and Lee is expected to become a major hurricane in a day or two.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 991 mb (29.27 inches).