EBN – In a significant development, Hurricane Lee will track north of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Furthermore, the hurricane is now classified as a powerful Category 3 storm.
However, it poses a looming threat of hazardous beach conditions along the US East Coast starting Sunday. This is according to the US National Hurricane Centre.
Located 505 km northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, Hurricane Lee boasts sustained winds of 185 kph, according to experts.
The storm is presently moving west-northwest at a rate of 17 kph. Meanwhile, the centre anticipates the potential for “gradual restrengthening” in the next 48 hours.
The precise impact that Hurricane Lee may exert along the US East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda in the latter part of the coming week remains uncertain.
This uncertainty arises as the storm is expected to decelerate over the southwestern Atlantic.
Dangerous Surf and Rip Currents
The forecaster cautions that the arrival of “dangerous surf and rip currents” is anticipated along the US East Coast. It will also gradually worsen throughout the week.
Notably, Hurricane Lee had earlier surged into a formidable Category 5 storm before weakening to its current Category 3 status.
Category 5 is the most severe classification on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale. Also, those hurricanes are renowned for their capacity to cause catastrophic destruction.
They often result in the demolition of framed homes, disruption of power grids, tree and powerline damage, and electrical outages.
In many cases, areas struck by such storms remain uninhabitable for weeks or longer.
US Spared as Hurricane Lee Tracks Northward
As it stands, the future intensity of Hurricane Lee is expected to exhibit fluctuations in the upcoming days.
Nonetheless, the hurricane is projected to maintain its formidable status through early next week, warranting careful monitoring by affected regions.
The news of Hurricane Lee’s trajectory north of Puerto Rico brings some relief to the US territory.
