Tropical Storm Lee is expected to rapidly intensify into an extremely dangerous hurricane by this weekend.
Current Position/Movement:
LOCATION...13.2N 41.8W
ABOUT 1315 MI...2115 KM E OF THE LESSER ANTILLES
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 16 MPH...26 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1005 MB...29.68 INCHES
No watches or warnings are in effect, but interests in the Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of this system.
At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Lee was located near latitude 13.2 North, longitude 41.8 West. Lee is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph (26 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue for the next few days with a slight reduction in forward speed.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Lee is forecast to be a hurricane within a couple of days and will likely become a major hurricane by Friday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km)from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb (29.68 inches).