Hurricane Lee is a dangerous category 4 hurricane with 130MPH maximum sustained winds. Rip currents and hazardous surf will spread across the Northern Caribbean tomorrow, and begin affecting the mainland United States by Sunday.
Current Position/Movement:
LOCATION...16.9N 51.3W
ABOUT 780 MI...1260 KM E OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...130 MPH...215 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 15 MPH...24 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...953 MB...28.15 INCHES
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect currently, but interests in the northern Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of Lee.
At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the clear eye of Hurricane Lee was located near latitude 16.9 North, longitude 51.3 West. Lee is moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph (24 km/h). The hurricane will continue moving in this direction for the next several days while gradually slowing down its forward speed. On the forecast track, the core of Lee will move north of the northern Leeward Islands during the next several days.
Maximum sustained winds have rapidly increased to near 130 mph (215 km/h) with higher gusts. Lee is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional strengthening is expected tonight. Fluctuations in intensity are expected after that, but Lee is forecast to remain a powerful major hurricane well into next week.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 953 mb (28.15 inches).