MIAMI -- Hurricane Lee is getting stronger again. That's the message delivered from Air Force Reserve crews that went inside the storm with a Hurricane Hunter aircraft.
They found top winds back up to 120 miles per hour, with higher gusts. Lee is expected to get stronger tonight, then fluctuate Monday and Tuesday.
Right now, the National Hurricane Center says Lee is centered about 285 miles NNE of the northern leeward Islands, moving WNW at 8 mph.
Forecasters say high surf has started moving onto the US East Coast and will get stronger as Lee moves north.
Florida and the southeast US are not in danger of a strike by Lee.
Forecasters are also watching two disturbances off the coast of Africa. One has a 20 percent chance of forming over the next seven days, while the other has a 40 percent chance of getting organized over the next week. There's also Tropical Storm Margot, which is expected to stay out at sea.
Photo: NHC
Hurricane Lee Advisory Number 22
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL132023
500 PM AST Sun Sep 10 2023
...AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTERS FIND LEE RESTRENGTHENING...
...HAZARDOUS BEACH CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO SPREAD THROUGH THE WESTERN
ATLANTIC DURING THE WEEK...
SUMMARY OF 500 PM AST...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...22.1N 61.7W
ABOUT 285 MI...455 KM NNE OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH...195 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 8 MPH...13 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...954 MB...28.17 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lee was located
near latitude 22.1 North, longitude 61.7 West. Lee is moving toward
the west-northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h). A slower west-northwestward
motion is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track,
Lee is expected to pass well north of the northern Leeward Islands,
the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico during the next day or two.
Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate
that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 120 mph (195
km/h) with higher gusts. Lee is a category 3 hurricane on the
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional strengthening
is forecast during the next day or so. Some fluctuations in
intensity are possible on Monday and Tuesday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles
(280 km).
The latest minimum central pressure reported by Air Force Reserve
reconnaissance is 954 mb (28.17 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for Lee can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion
under AWIPS header MIATCDAT3 and WMO header WTNT43 KNHC and on the
web at hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT3.shtml
SURF: Swells generated by Lee are affecting portions of the Lesser
Antilles, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico,
Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda.
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip
current conditions. Dangerous surf and rip currents have begun
to reach portions of the southeast U.S. East Coast and are forecast
to worsen and spread northward along much of the U.S. East Coast
during the next couple of days. Please consult products from your
local weather office.
NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next complete advisory at 1100 PM AST.