Thursday, September 7, 2023 3:28AM
MIAMI — Lee strengthened into a hurricane as it churned through the open waters of the Atlantic on Wednesday as it approached the Caribbean.
The storm was located about 1,035 miles (1,665 kilometers) east of the northern Leeward Islands. It had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 14 mph (22 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center.
It was not forecast to make landfall, but it is projected to pass just northeast of the British Virgin Islands, which is still recovering from hurricanes Maria and Irma that hit in September 2017.
Lee is expected to develop into an extremely dangerous major hurricane by Friday.
“Lee continues to strengthen at a quick pace,” the center said, noting the storm is moving over very warm waters and a moist environment.
Lee is the 12th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration warned in August that this year’s hurricane season would be above normal. Between 14 to 21 named storms are forecast. Of those, six to 11 could become hurricanes, with two to five of them possibly becoming major hurricanes.
In the Pacific, Jova strengthened into a hurricane far off the southwest coast of Mexico and posed no threat to land. It had 85 mph (140 kph) winds. It was located some 640 miles (1,035 kilometers) south of the southern tip of Baja California and moving west-northwest at 9 mph (15 kph).
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