Hurricane Lee’s Effects on US Atlantic Seaboard: Forecasters Warn of Potential Impact

Category 3 Hurricane Lee, located hundreds of miles east of the Caribbean, is expected to have an impact on the US Atlantic seaboard as early as this weekend, according to forecasters. With maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, the major hurricane is forecast to maintain its strength on Saturday and restrengthen over the weekend. While it is still too early to determine if the core of the storm will directly impact the US mainland, Lee is expected to bring rip currents and large waves to most of the East Coast of the United States on Sunday and Monday. Caribbean islands are also expected to be affected by the storm as it moves slowly west-northwest through the Atlantic. Swells generated by Lee have already been reported in the Lesser Antilles, and other regions such as the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda are also expected to face swells that could bring life-threatening surf and rip conditions. The hurricane has reached rare Category 5 strength, with only 2% of storms in the Atlantic ever achieving this level. Lee intensified with exceptional speed, more than doubling its wind speeds in just one day. It is the 8th Category 5 hurricane since 2016, indicating an increasing trend in these powerful storms. The storm’s potential track next week will be determined by multiple atmospheric factors, including the position of the Bermuda High and the jet stream. While the exact track and potential impact on the US coast are still uncertain, forecasters will continue to monitor Lee’s progress in the coming days.