Lee To Become 'Extremely Dangerous' Hurricane: What It Means For NJ

NEW JERSEY — As another potentially-destructive hurricane strengthens in the Atlantic Basin, forecasters have an eye on how Hurricane Lee could impact the East Coast and the Jersey Shore.

During its 5 p.m. advisory, the National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Lee is now a category 1 storm with 75 mph maximum sustained winds with higher gusts, "and is likely to rapidly intensify into an extremely dangerous major hurricane by early Saturday."

Forecasters said the "long-lasting" storm could bring impacts all the way up the East Coast into Atlantic Canada.

"At the very least, a significant risk of dangerous rip currents is expected along the East Coast," said AccuWeather forecasters in their latest update on Lee.

Beach hazards will be possible as the storm nears the Eastern Seaboard, and could impact the Jersey Shore with dangerous rip currents, rough surf, and high seas.

The Atlantic Basin has spawned two major hurricanes this year: Franklin and Idalia, which were both active just last week. AccuWeather forecasters said that Lee could be stronger than either previous hurricane and potentially reach Category 5, "becoming the most intense storm of the season."

The Atlantic hurricane season has entered its busiest month. As the 2023 season approaches its Sept. 10 peak, 12 named storms including Lee have formed in the Atlantic. Only eight other seasons in more than 100 years have matched that pace, said Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane expert at Colorado State University, to The New York Times.

Where is Hurricane Lee currently?

At 5 p.m. Wednesday, the hurricane was located about 1,130 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands, moving west-northwest at 14 mph. A slight reduction in forward speed is predicted over the weekend.

"Continued steady to rapid strengthening is forecast, and Lee is expected to become a major hurricane in a day or two," the NHC advisory said.

"The NHC intensity forecast calls for Lee to reach category 4 intensity in two to three days," NHC senior hurricane specialist and warning coordination meteorologist Daniel Brown said.

Most of the long-range (spaghetti) models have Lee eventually curving north - missing the Caribbean and remaining offshore of the United States, National Public Radio reported.

Most models show Lee moving near Bermuda next week and eventually heading north, paralleling the eastern U.S. coastline, ABC News reported.

NHC Director Michael Brennan said the center no longer uses the so-called spaghetti models because they confuse the public and may include tracks that have little or no chance of being correct.

Related article:

• Hurricane Lee Likely To Be 'Extremely Dangerous Major' Storm: NHC

Patch's D'Ann Lawrence White contributed to this article.