A new tropical storm has developed in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to become a very dangerous hurricane by the weekend.
Tropical Storm Lee was officially recognized by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 5 pm (Eastern Time) on Tuesday. Its winds have increased to 45 miles per hour with strong gusts. Lee is predicted to become a hurricane in a couple of days and could potentially become a major hurricane by Friday, according to the NHC.
The storm is currently located about 1,300 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, moving west-northwest at 16 mph through the eastern Caribbean. It is expected to pass north of Puerto Rico and might then head towards Bermuda.
Meteorologist Ryan Maue suggested that Lee could become a powerful storm, possibly reaching Category 4 or 5, but it’s expected to stay safely north of the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico.
This development comes shortly after Category 3 Hurricane Idalia struck the west coast of Florida less than a week ago. The remnants of Idalia, along with another hurricane named Franklin, have led to strong ocean currents along the mid-Atlantic coast, resulting in at least eight reported deaths during the Labor Day weekend.
The Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts from June 1st to November 30th, is projected to be more active than usual this year. Late August and early September are typically the peak months of the season.
5PM AST Sep 5: Tropical Storm #Lee expected to rapidly intensify into an extremely dangerous hurricane by the weekend. Stay up to date with the latest at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/uiYYCjKHG3
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 5, 2023
Warmer ocean temperatures this summer have set historical records. Warmer oceans can fuel more powerful tropical storms, causing heavier rainfall and higher storm surges when they reach land, as explained by Climate Central.