Hurricane Lee hits the Atlantic Ocean.
CNN
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Hurricane Lee The storm has prompted a tropical storm warning for Bermuda and is expected to weaken over the next two days, although the system may remain “large and dangerous” through the week, forecasters said.
The huge storm that continues Category 3 As of Wednesday morning, the hurricane continued to move toward the northwest in the open Atlantic Ocean and was about 475 miles southwest of the island with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.
“On the forecast track, Lee’s center will pass west of Bermuda Thursday and Thursday night and then approach the coast of New England or Atlantic Canada late this week.” The hurricane center said At 5 a.m. advisory.
Lee could become a Category 2 hurricane by the evening, but the coastal storm’s impacts outside its center will be significant due to its massive size and slow movement.
The hurricane has steadily increased in size since the weekend, bringing hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 115 miles from the center. The hurricane center said. Tropical storm force winds extend up to 240 miles.
“Some slow weakening is expected over the next 48 hours,” hurricane center meteorologists said late Tuesday. “However, Li is likely to remain a major and dangerous typhoon during the next two days.”
That’s why a weaker storm isn’t necessarily less dangerous — a larger storm has the potential to impact a more widespread area, increasing the likelihood of Lee impacting the East Coast.
As of Wednesday morning, the exact timing and extent of Lee’s winds and rainfall if they hit the United States and possibly Canada were still uncertain. But the hurricane’s path may become clearer on Thursday as it is expected to move north and increase its forward speed.
“It is expected to move toward the north-northwest later (Wednesday), followed by a northward turn and increased speed on Thursday and Friday,” the hurricane center said.
By the end of the week, the northeastern United States could see strong winds, even if Lee’s center remains hundreds of miles away. Tropical storm gusts could impact parts of Connecticut and eastern Massachusetts Friday night when Lee’s center is expected to be about 250 miles to the southeast.
High winds, heavy rain and storm surge may affect other parts of New England and eastern Canada this weekend.
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Starting Wednesday night or early Thursday, heavy rain and high waves are expected to sweep Bermuda, with the island’s weather service issuing a tropical storm warning.
The swellings caused by Lee were already affecting parts of Bermuda. “These swells will likely produce life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” the hurricane center said Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, dangerous surf has already been seen along the southeastern coast of the United States from Florida through the Carolinas. National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina, He warned of high risks For rip currents along the Georgia and South Carolina beaches on Wednesday.
“Dangerous rip currents are possible and can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore.” The office said.
Some Caribbean islands, including the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas have already faced similar conditions as Lee passes to the north.
By Thursday, Hurricane Lee may weaken into a Category 1 storm, with its center making its closest approach to Bermuda on Thursday. Heavy rainfall may cause localized flooding.
