Category 3 Hurricane Lee updates from the National Hurricane Center for Saturday, Sep 09

Article first published: Saturday, Sep. 09, 2023, 5 a.m. ET

The National Hurricane Center's 5 am Saturday advisory reported that Category 3 Hurricane Lee is 385 miles east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands, with maximum sustained wind of 115 mph. It’s moving 12 mph to the west-northwest.

"... Lee is expected to pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico into early next week." forecasters explained. "Fluctuations in intensity are likely over the next few days, however Lee is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through early next week."

YESTERDAY (Friday):

Yesterday, Lee transformed into a Category 4 hurricane. It was later downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 115 miles per hour.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:

SURF: Swells generated by Lee are affecting portions of the Lesser Antilles, and will spread westward to the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda through this weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected to begin along most of the U.S. East Coast Sunday and Monday and worsen through the week.

Source: National Hurricane Center

This story was originally published September 8, 2023 at 11:12 AM.