A composite image shows Hurricane Lee churning towards the Caribbean after intensifying into a major storm, September 8, 2023.
Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Hurricane Lee, a powerful Category 3 storm, was expected to move well north of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands this weekend but could cause dangerous beach conditions on the U.S. East Coast beginning on Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Saturday.
"Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected to begin along most of the U.S. East Coast Sunday and Monday and worsen through the week," the forecaster said.
Lee had intensified into a dangerous Category 5 storm earlier in the week, the highest step on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale, before downgrading into a Category 3 hurricane.
"Fluctuations in intensity are likely over thenext few days, however Lee is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through early next week," it said.
Persons:
Lee, Hurricane Lee, Eric Beech, Timothy Gardner, Diane Craft
Organizations:
Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, REUTERS, Acquire, Rights, U.S . Virgin, U.S . East, U.S, National Hurricane Center, U.S ., U.S . East Coast Sunday, National Weather Service, Thomson
Locations:
Puerto Rico, U.S, U.S . East Coast, Leeward, Atlantic Canada, Bermuda