Hurricane Lee could form in the Atlantic by the end of the week.Hurricane Lee could form in the Atlantic by the end of the week.
Hurricane Lee could form in the Atlantic by the end of the week. | National Hurricane Center

Powerful Hurricane Lee likely to form this week

Published on September 5, 2023 at 4:21 pm

Don’t look now, but another potentially massive hurricane is headed our general direction.

The National Hurricane Center says the new Tropical Depression 13 could develop into Hurricane Lee by the end of the week. The storm is moving west-northwest at about 15 mph with winds of close to 35 mph.

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The system will hit record-warm waters as it moves west and could intensify quickly into a major hurricane — meaning winds of at last 111 mph — by Saturday, the Hurricane Center says.

Most forecast models show the storm curving north next week without reaching Florida, but it’s too early to say with confidence what direction it will travel. Even if the hurricane avoided Florida, it could lead to huge swells and dangerous riptides along the coast.

Sunday will be Sept. 10, the date considered the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. It is the date when the most tropical storms and hurricanes have roamed the Atlantic basin.

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author image Senior News Director

Randy comes to Jacksonville from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, where as metro editor, he led investigative coverage of the Parkland school shooting that won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for public service. He has spent more than 40 years in reporting and editing positions in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Florida. 

author image Senior News Director

Randy comes to Jacksonville from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, where as metro editor, he led investigative coverage of the Parkland school shooting that won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for public service. He has spent more than 40 years in reporting and editing positions in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Florida. 


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