Hurricane Lee Forms in the Atlantic, Potential Impact on East Coast Uncertain
Over the Labor Day weekend, social media feeds were filled with warnings about a major storm expected to hit the East Coast of the United States. On Wednesday, that hypothetical storm became a reality as Hurricane Lee formed, according to the National Hurricane Center. However, it is still uncertain whether the hurricane will make landfall along the Eastern Seaboard.
As of Wednesday night, Hurricane Lee was located more than 1,000 miles east of the Leeward Islands in the northeastern Caribbean. The storm was rapidly intensifying with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and was moving west-northwest at 14 mph. Despite its strength, no coastal watches or warnings were in effect at the time.
Forecasts indicate that Hurricane Lee, currently a Category 1 hurricane, is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane with winds of at least 111 mph by Friday. The storm is also expected to generate swells that could reach the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Bahamas, and Bermuda over the weekend.
While Hurricane Lee has the potential to make landfall along the East Coast, it is equally likely to stay out at sea and away from the United States. Historical data shows that some of the biggest hurricanes to hit the East Coast, such as the unnamed hurricane in 1938 that struck Long Island and Hurricane Hugo in 1989 that made landfall in South Carolina, began in a similar region of the central Atlantic as Lee.
Social media played a significant role in fueling concerns about the storm. Posts speculating about the storm’s potential to avoid land gained traction, particularly those sharing forecast models depicting a major storm approaching a major U.S. city in the coming weeks.
Although several computer models predict the storm’s track, uncertainties remain regarding when and where Hurricane Lee will turn. Current indications suggest that Bermuda could be more at risk than the United States or Canada. As more data is collected and incorporated into the models, a clearer picture of the storm’s path will emerge.
Spaghetti models, which display multiple computer models on a single map, provide insights into the potential path of the storm. The closer the lines are together, the more confidence forecasters have in predicting the storm’s trajectory. For the next few days, there is a fairly reliable consensus that Hurricane Lee will track northwest. However, as the lines spread wider apart, more possibilities and uncertainties arise.
Even if Hurricane Lee does not make a direct landfall, it is likely to generate rip currents and large waves along the U.S. East Coast next week. It is crucial to monitor the storm’s progress, but there is no need for panic at this time.
Overall, Hurricane Lee’s potential impact on the East Coast remains uncertain. With various factors at play, including steering currents and evolving computer models, it is essential to stay informed and prepared as the storm continues to develop.
Original Story at www.nytimes.com – 2023-09-07 04:23:00
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