Hurricane Lee Public Advisory

BULLETIN Hurricane Lee Advisory Number 8 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL132023 500 AM AST Thu Sep 07 2023 …LEE FORECAST TO RAPIDLY STRENGTHEN… …LARGE SWELLS LIKELY TO REACH THE LESSER ANTILLES, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND PUERTO RICO THROUGH THE WEEKEND… SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST…0900 UTC…INFORMATION ———————————————- LOCATION…16.1N 48.6W ABOUT 965 MI…1555 KM E OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…80 MPH…130 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 13 MPH…20 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…989 MB…29.21 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS ——————– There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. Interests in the northern Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of Lee. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ———————- At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lee was located near latitude 16.1 North, longitude 48.6 West. Lee is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue through Friday. A slower motion toward the west-northwest is forecast over the weekend. Maximum sustained winds remain near 80 mph (130 km/h) with higher gusts. Rapid intensification is expected to begin later today, and Lee is forecast to become a major hurricane by early Friday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 989 mb (29.21 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ———————- Key messages for Lee can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT3 and WMO header WTNT43 KNHC and on the web at hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT3.shtml SURF: Swells generated by Lee are expected to reach portions of the Lesser Antilles on Friday, and reach the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Bahamas, and Bermuda this weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.