Hurricane Lee getting stronger Monday, then much weaker by landfall

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - 11 AM Update: Hurricane Lee is holding 110 mph winds at the center of the storm. Lee is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph. A slower west-northwestward motion is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, Lee is expected to pass well north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico into early next week. Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, followed by gradual weakening. As it moves north it will move over waters that have already cooled from Franklin and Idalia moving across the Atlantic.

Swells generated by Lee are affecting portions of the Lesser Antilles, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected to begin along much of the U.S. East Coast later today and worsen through this week.

Copyright 2023 WWSB. All rights reserved.