Hurricane Lee is currently moving through open waters and has the potential to become the first Category 5 storm of the Atlantic season. While it is projected to stay away from land, there is a possibility of tropical storm conditions affecting some islands in the northeast Caribbean. The exact details of potential rainfall and wind gusts are not yet known as it is still too early to determine. At the moment, the Category 2 hurricane is located approximately 870 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, with winds of up to 105 mph and a west-northwest movement at 15 mph.
Forecasters expect Lee to rapidly intensify into an “extremely dangerous” major hurricane later today. The National Hurricane Center in Miami stated that the environmental conditions surrounding the cyclone are favorable for rapid intensification. The Lesser Antilles can expect life-threatening surf on Friday, followed by impacts to the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Bahamas, and Bermuda over the weekend.
Lee is the 12th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which officially spans from June 1 to November 30 and reaches its peak in September. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted a total of 14 to 21 named storms for this season, with six to 11 becoming hurricanes and two to five potentially evolving into major hurricanes.
In the Pacific, Hurricane Jova is currently a Category 4 storm, far from the southwest coast of Mexico. There is no threat to land at the moment. Jova is situated approximately 550 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California and is moving west-northwest at 16 mph, with winds reaching 155 mph. It is expected to weaken starting late today.