As the first major storm of the season, Hurricane Lee is rapidly gaining strength and heading towards the East Coast.
Currently classified as a Category 4 hurricane, it is expected to escalate to a Category 5 in the coming days. The storm was located 700 miles east of the Leeward Islands on Thursday night. By next weekend, it could be bearing down on New York City and Boston.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the hurricane’s trajectory and the preparations being made by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
FEMA already deployed assets to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in anticipation of the storm. The potential impact of Hurricane Lee is not to be underestimated, with life-threatening surf and rip currents predicted for the Lesser Antilles by Friday.
JUST IN: New hurricane model predicts the of MERGER OF ALL THREE MASSIVE CELLS creating the largest storm the East Coast has ever seen..
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) September 8, 2023
The National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has issued warnings about the impending swells expected to hit the U.S. Virginia Island, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Bermuda this weekend.
Ernesto Morales from the National Weather Service cautioned, “We will see waves between 10 and 15 feet, so we don’t want anyone on the beaches.”
Hurricane Lee is the 12th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, and typically peaks in September.
Hot on its heels, Tropical Storm Margot became the 13th named storm after forming on Thursday evening, located some 290 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.
The United States is still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall in Florida in late August.
The storm brought heavy rain and deadly surges to parts of the Sunshine State, causing havoc in Georgia and the Carolinas. Four deaths were attributed to Hurricane Idalia.
🔴HURRICANE LEE IS NOW ONE OF THE BIGGEST STORMS ON RECORD, WINDS SUSTAINING 160MPH pic.twitter.com/sn0VLqynJD
— XNews365 (@XNews365) September 8, 2023
New York City, in particular, is still haunted by the memory of Superstorm Sandy, which swept through in October 2012, causing an estimated $19 billion in damages and more than 230 deaths worldwide.
The storm damaged many landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, which was closed for over eight months after the storm.
As Hurricane Lee approaches, residents of New York City and Boston are bracing themselves for what could be a significant storm.
The memories of past storms serve as a stark reminder of the potential devastation that Hurricane Lee could bring. As we continue to monitor the storm’s progress, it is crucial for residents to heed the warnings and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
