On Thursday night time, Hurricane Lee strengthened “at an distinctive fee” after swiftly shifting up a number of storm classes throughout the previous couple of hours. It grew to become a Class 5 hurricane simply earlier than 11 p.m. ET, in response to a put up by the Nationwide Hurricane Centre.
The large image: This weekend, the harmful hurricane is predicted to cross over the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico whereas maybe slowing down east-northeast of the Bahamas.
That is the primary occasion by which the NHC predicted a hurricane would solely be a Class 2 storm when it could ultimately change into a Class 5 storm.
Some laptop simulations predict that the storm will strengthen into one of many strongest, if not the strongest hurricane ever recorded within the Atlantic Basin. It is a particular consequence of the ocean being unusually heat. These are associated to beneficial atmospheric situations and human-caused local weather change.
At 5 a.m. ET on Thursday, Lee had 80 mph winds and was a Class 1 hurricane. By the point it reached 130 mph after 12 hours, its most sustained winds had grown to Class 4, in response to the Saffir-Simpson scale of wind depth.
By 11 p.m. ET, the storm had 160 mph most sustained winds and was shifting 705 miles to the west-northwest at a pace of 14 mph.
“The Air Pressure Reserve Hurricane Hunters have discovered that Lee has skyrocketed to Class 5 energy,” in response to an NHC forecast dialogue.
In response to the NHC, the storm’s most sustained winds grew by just a little over 80 mph in 24 hours. The rise in pace properly exceeds the brink of 35 mph required to qualify as a fast intensification.
In response to the latest NHC projection, the storm’s high sustained winds will probably be 180 mph.
The intrigue: This storm’s monitor warrants nice consideration as a result of it’s forecast to be fairly highly effective.
The Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico would keep away from any substantial injury since, in response to the latest NHC projection, it could keep far sufficient north of these places.
Hurricane Lee will journey by means of among the Atlantic’s warmest waters in the course of the subsequent three days, giving the storm power to strengthen.
In response to the NHC, rip currents are predicted to begin hitting areas of the northern Caribbean on Friday, and excessive seas and unsafe surf will pose probably the most risks from Lee in the course of the subsequent days.
Sure, nevertheless the NHC warned that the storm may nonetheless have a extra direct influence on the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico given typical storm monitor deviations to date upfront.
“It’s approach too quickly to know what stage of impacts, if any, Lee might need alongside the U.S. East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda late subsequent week, significantly for the reason that hurricane is predicted to decelerate significantly over the southwestern Atlantic,” the company stated late Thursday.
“Regardless, harmful surf and rip currents are anticipated alongside a lot of the U.S. East Coast starting Sunday. Proceed to observe updates to Lee’s forecast in the course of the subsequent a number of days.”
Zoom in: East of the Lesser Antilles, the storm is predicted to meander over waters that may set a brand new document for heat by at the very least 86°F. This could permit the hurricane to accentuate swiftly and attain the very best level on the Saffir-Simpson scale, assuming that different situations allow it.
“The query doesn’t look like if fast intensification continues, however moderately how robust Lee will get, and the way shortly will it get there. Most of the fashions are calling for outstanding charges of intensification, past charges usually seen with mannequin forecasts,” the NHC said.
Research reveal that fast intensification is changing into prevalent and pronounced when air and sea temperatures rise on account of human-caused local weather change. Speedy intensification is commonly noticed within the fiercest hurricanes.
Originally posted 2023-09-08 04:26:42.