Category 5 Hurricane Lee updates from the National Hurricane Center for Friday, Sep 08

Article first published: Friday, Sep. 08, 2023, 5 a.m. ET

On Friday at 5 am, the National Hurricane Center issued an advisory stating that Category 5 Hurricane Lee is 630 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands, with maximum sustained wind of 165 mph. It’s moving 14 mph to the west-northwest.

"... Lee is expected to pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend and into early next week." forecasters noted. "Additional strengthening is forecast today." They also said "Fluctuations in intensity are likely over the next few days, but Lee is expected to remain a major hurricane through early next week."

YESTERDAY (Thursday):

Yesterday, there were several developments: Lee started out as a Category 2 hurricane and a Category 4 hurricane but eventually became a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 160 miles per hour.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:

SURF: Swells generated by Lee are expected to reach portions of the Lesser Antilles later today, and reach the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda this weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected to begin along most of the U.S. East Coast beginning Sunday.

Source: National Hurricane Center

This story was originally published September 7, 2023 at 11:15 AM with the headline "Category 5 Hurricane Lee updates from the National Hurricane Center for Friday, Sep 08."