Hurricane Lee Intensifies to Category Four, Caribbean Islands Brace for Impact
Hurricane Lee, the 12th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is expected to remain powerful over the next few days as it continues its path through the Atlantic. Although it has weakened slightly to a category four storm, it still carries wind speeds near 155mph (250 km/h), posing a threat to the west Atlantic.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned of “dangerous beach conditions” as Lee churns its way through the ocean. While the hurricane is not projected to make landfall anywhere on its current path, it may still impact the shores of some Caribbean islands.
In its latest update, the NHC revealed that Lee is expected to pass “well north” of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend and early next week. However, the storm’s swells are anticipated to reach parts of the Caribbean, including the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Turks and Caicos, starting from Friday and throughout the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Furthermore, similar conditions are anticipated to begin on the east coast of the US on Sunday. The NHC stated on X (formerly known as Twitter) that it is currently “too early to know what level of impacts” Hurricane Lee will have on the US, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda.
As of Friday afternoon, Hurricane Lee was positioned about 565 miles (910km) east of the northern Leeward Islands. Meanwhile, Tropical Depression 14 evolved into Tropical Storm Margot on Thursday. Margot is projected to gain hurricane strength over the weekend but is expected to remain over open water.
In the Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Jova has weakened from a category five to a category two storm. Further weakening is expected over the weekend due to cooler waters. The storm is currently located 755 miles (1,220km) southwest of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is anticipated to be more active than average. The impact of climate change on the frequency and intensity of tropical storms is still uncertain. However, increased sea surface temperatures provide more energy to fuel hurricanes, possibly leading to more intense storms and extreme rainfall.
As the threat of Hurricane Lee looms over the Caribbean islands, residents and authorities are urged to stay informed and take necessary precautions to ensure public safety.