Hurricane Lee Gains Strength, Poses Imminent Threat to Caribbean and Beyond

| 07 September 2023

As the Atlantic hurricane season ramps up, Hurricane Lee is emerging as a major cause for concern. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a dire warning, designating Lee as "extremely dangerous" with the potential to become a Category 5 hurricane, the strongest of the year. This development comes as the Caribbean, especially the northeast region, braces for life-threatening conditions, including massive swells and high waves.

The latest update from the NHC on Thursday paints a grim picture for the Caribbean islands. Hurricane Lee is projected to intensify significantly by Friday, with the NHC tracker cautioning that "large ocean swells [are] likely to reach Lesser Antilles, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico through the weekend." These swells are anticipated to bring life-threatening waves and rips to the region.

The National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has issued a specific alert, warning that seas around the island could surge by a staggering 12 feet (3.7 meters). Such a surge has the potential to wreak havoc on coastal communities and infrastructure.

However, uncertainties still loom regarding the precise impact of the hurricane. Lee's forecasted path takes it a couple of hundred miles north of the Caribbean islands, which means the extent of rainfall and wind impacts remains uncertain.

In the previous update, issued late on Wednesday, the NHC reported that Hurricane Lee was located approximately 1,130 miles (1,815 kilometers) east of the northern Leeward Islands. At that time, it boasted maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) while moving west-northwest at 14 mph (22 km/h). The chief meteorologist for AccuWeather, Jonathan Porter, warns that Lee "has the potential to become a powerhouse Category 5 hurricane."

Hurricane Lee is the 12th named storm in what experts have already predicted to be an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. The season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, has already seen a higher number of storms than usual. The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had warned in August that between 14 to 21 named storms were expected, with the possibility of six to 11 of them developing into hurricanes. Furthermore, the agency cautioned that two to five of these hurricanes could potentially reach major hurricane status.

As Hurricane Lee gathers strength, Caribbean residents and authorities are urged to remain vigilant, take necessary precautions, and stay tuned to official weather updates. The unpredictability of hurricanes underscores the importance of preparedness in vulnerable regions, as they brace for yet another potentially devastating weather event in what has already proven to be a challenging hurricane season.