Hurricane Lee Gains Momentum, Threatens U.S. East Coast with Dangerous Surf and Rip Currents

Hurricane Lee is gaining strength in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and is expected to bring dangerous surf and rip currents to the U.S. East Coast in the coming days, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm is currently located about 270 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, and is forecasted to pass north of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other Caribbean islands.

Lee, currently a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph, has restrengthened after being downgraded to Category 2 earlier on Sunday. There is a possibility of further strengthening over the next day or so. The storm is generating swells that are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions in the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, and Bermuda.

These dangerous surf and rip currents have already begun to impact the U.S. Southeast Coast and are expected to worsen and spread northward. Residents and visitors are advised to stay away from the water in preparation for the hazardous conditions. The long-term track of Hurricane Lee remains uncertain, with meteorologists closely monitoring the storm for any potential shifts that could bring it closer to the U.S. coast.

Currently, the chances of Lee making landfall are considered to be very low, but forecasters will have a clearer picture of its path by the middle of next week. Regardless of the exact track, large waves and dangerous rip currents are expected up and down the East Coast.

Hurricane Lee quickly gained strength, becoming a Category 5 storm on Thursday, before weakening to a Category 2 on Saturday and re-intensifying to a Category 3 on Sunday. Storms in Categories 3, 4, and 5 are considered major hurricanes and have the potential to cause significant damage and loss of life.

Officials have not yet issued any storm or hurricane watches or warnings for areas that could be affected by Lee. Hurricane Lee comes on the heels of Hurricane Idalia, which caused destruction across the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. It claimed at least two lives and caused widespread flooding and damage.