Hurricane Lee is rapidly strengthening with large swells likely to reach the Lesser Antilles, The Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico by this weekend.
Current Position/Movement
LOCATION...16.4N 50.0W
ABOUT 870 MI...1405 KM E OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...105 MPH...165 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 15 MPH...24 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...983 MB...29.03 INCHES
No watches or warnings are currently in effect.
At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lee was located near latitude 16.4 North, longitude 50.0 West. Lee is moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph (24 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue through Friday. A slower motion toward the west-northwest is forecast over the weekend. On the forecast track, the core of Lee will move north of the northern Leeward islands during the next few days.
Maximum sustained have quickly increased to near 105 mph (165 km/h) with higher gusts. Rapid intensification is expected today and tonight. Lee will likely become a major hurricane later today Lee is forecast to remain a very strong major hurricane through the weekend
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km).