Hurricane Lee is about to turn toward the NNW over the Southwestern Atlantic. It's increasing the risk of wind, coastal flooding, and rain for portions of New England and Atlantic Canada.
At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lee was located near latitude 25.7 North, longitude 67.1 West. Lee is moving towardthe northwest near 6 mph (9 km/h). A turn toward the north-northwest is expected later today, followed by a northward turn and an increase in speed on Thursday and Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Lee will pass west of Bermuda Thursday and Thursday night and then approach the coast of New England or Atlantic Canada late this week.
Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts. Lee is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Slow weakening is forecast during the next few days, however Lee is likely to remain a large and dangerous hurricane into the weekend.
Lee is a very large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 240 miles (390 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 948 mb (28.00 inches).
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