San Juan, Puerto Rico – The northeast Caribbean found itself under siege by large swells on Saturday as Hurricane Lee, now a Category 3 storm, churned menacingly through open waters. This powerful storm, while not forecasted to make landfall, has set its sights on the region, causing concern among local authorities.
As of the latest update, Hurricane Lee was positioned approximately 350 miles (565 kilometers) east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. The storm packed formidable winds of up to 115 miles per hour (185 kilometers per hour) and was steadily moving west-northwest at a rate of 12 miles per hour (19 kilometers per hour).
The remarkable and rapid intensification of Hurricane Lee earlier this week raised eyebrows among meteorologists. Within a single day, it had transitioned from a Category 1 storm to an extremely powerful Category 5 hurricane, all thanks to warm waters and limited wind shear. “This was one of the fastest rates of strengthening in the Atlantic Basin on record,” remarked AccuWeather in a statement.
Forecasters from the National Hurricane Center anticipate Lee to regain strength on Sunday and Monday. This news has sent ripples of apprehension through the region, particularly among those still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria that struck in September 2017, affecting areas ranging from the British Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico.
Although tropical storm conditions were not projected for any Caribbean islands, authorities issued warnings regarding breaking waves as high as 15 feet (five meters) in Puerto Rico and nearby territories. Citizens were urged to stay away from the water as a precaution.
Captain Jose Diaz of the Coast Guard sector in San Juan, Puerto Rico, expressed his concerns about underestimating the storm’s impact. He explained, “The increase in projected sea states of 10 to 15 feet severely reduces our ability to respond to a maritime distress with the full use of our resources.”
The National Hurricane Center issued a note regarding the seas near the center of the hurricane, expecting them to peak at a towering 45 feet (14 meters). Additionally, they cautioned that dangerous surf and rip currents could affect most of the U.S. East Coast starting Sunday. However, the hurricane’s influence beyond that remains uncertain, with the center stating, “It is way too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda late next week.”
Meanwhile, officials in the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe warned of possible heavy rainfall in some areas, with up to three inches (eight millimeters) expected in three hours or less. In the French territories of St. Barts and St. Martin, coastal areas were cautioned about the potential for flooding.
Hurricane Lee is anticipated to retain its formidable strength into the coming week, with a northward trajectory projected by Wednesday. Nevertheless, the storm’s exact path beyond that point remains uncertain, prompting meteorologist Bernie Rayno of AccuWeather to remark, “Right now, the area in the United States that really needs to pay attention includes locations from the upper part of the mid-Atlantic coast to New England.”
Lee is the 12th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which typically runs from June 1 to November 30 and often peaks in September. Tropical Storm Margot has also entered the fray as the 13th named storm, forming on Thursday evening. It currently lies about 970 miles (1,560 kilometers) west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, boasting winds of up to 45 mph (75 kph). Forecasters predict it will intensify into a hurricane early next week, with a west-northwest movement expected, keeping it over open water.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had predicted between 14 and 21 named storms for this season in August. Of those, six to 11 are expected to become hurricanes, with two to five potentially developing into major hurricanes.
In the Pacific, Hurricane Jova poses no threat to land as it continues to spin harmlessly through open waters, far from Mexico’s southwest coast. The hurricane is currently situated about 995 miles (1,600 kilometers) west of the southern tip of Baja California, moving west-northwest at 10 mph (17 km/h) with winds reaching up to 65 mph (100 km/h).