As Florida and the Southeast continue cleaning up after Hurricane Idalia, another potentially major storm could be headed that way.
The National Hurricane Center is tracking Tropical Storm Lee, which is currently in the heart of the Atlantic. The storm, forecasters say, will “intensify into an extremely dangerous major hurricane by Saturday.”
While it’s still a long way off the U.S. coast, meteorologists say it should continue on a westward track and could impact Florida or the East Coast. Forecasters note, however, that it’s possible the storm could loop out to sea, depending on the steering patterns of winds.
“Interests across the Caribbean and along the East Coast from Florida to Maine will need to pay close attention to Lee,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. “Depending on the path this system takes, the expected time frame for potential impacts to the United States and Atlantic Canada may be Sept. 13–16.”
Lee is expected to become a category 3 hurricane by Saturday morning and could be a category 4 storm by Sunday.
“The NHC intensity forecast is near the upper end of the guidance and calls for Lee to reach category 4 intensity in two to three days,” said the Hurricane Center in its most recent update.
Whether or not the storm hits the U.S. shore, it’s likely to result in a stronger surf and dangerous rip currents. And officials at the Florida Division of Emergency Management say that they’re not worried for now and that Lee poses “no direct threat to Florida over the next seven to 10 days, at least,” but the system should continue to be monitored.
Hurricane season typically peaks in mid-September, with the most category 4 and category 5 storms.