PUERTO RICO — SAN JUAn, Large surges battered the northeast Caribbean as Hurricane Lee agitated nearby through open waters as a Class 2 storm.
The hurricane, which is not predicted to make landfall, was positioned about 455 kilometers northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. Its extreme constant winds had reduced to 165 kph and it was travelling west-northwest at 15 kph.
Earlier this week, Lee nurtured from a Class 1 storm to a Class 5 storm in just one day among warm waters and restricted wind shear.
AccuWeather said in a statement, that this was one of the strongest rates of growth in the Atlantic Basin in history.
according to the National Hurricane Center, Lee is predicted to reclaim strength on Sunday and Monday,
The hurricane was estimate to pass well north of the northeast Caribbean in a big respite to the public from the British Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, which are still recuperating from hurricanes Maria and Irma, that hit in September 2017.
Tropical storm settings were not expected for any Caribbean Island, but breaking waves of up to 5 meters were predicted for Puerto Rico and nearby territories, with authorities cautioning people to stay away from water.
Coast Guard sector in San Juan, Puerto Rico Capt. José Díaz informed, that they are worried about public and boaters who may underrate the influence of this passing storm. The increase in predicted sea states of 10 to 15 feet (3-4.5 meters) harshly reduces our capability to respond to a maritime distress with the complete use of the resources in hand.
The seas near the midpoint of the hurricane were anticipated to top at 14 meters, the National Hurricane Center said.
It noted that hazardous rip currents and surf were anticipated to touch most of the U.S. East Coast on Sunday, but that the hurricane’s influence outside that is still uncertain.
The center said, it is too early to know what level of influence, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast, Bermuda or Atlantic Canada, late next week.
Meanwhile, representatives in the French Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe cautioned of up to 8 millimeters of rain in a duration of three hours or less for some parts, while officials in the French territories of St. Martin and St. Barts informed flooding in some coastal areas was likely.
Lee was predicted to take a northward direction by Wednesday. However, its trail after that remained uncertain.
AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said, at this moment, the part of United States that really require attention comprises of locations from the upper part of the mid-Atlantic coast to New England.
Lee is the 12th christened storm of the Atlantic hurricane period, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 and peaks in September.
Tropical Hurricane Margot became the 13th named hurricane after starting Thursday evening, but was in the Atlantic and stood no danger to land. It was positioned about 1,705 kilometers west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands late Saturday. Its winds had increased to 85 kph and it was predicted to fortify into a major storm early next week. It was The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration in August estimated between 14 and 21 named storms this season. Six to eleven of them are said to develop into hurricanes, and of those, two to five might grow into major hurricanes.
In the Pacific, Jova deteriorated to a tropical storm as it twirled over open waters away from Mexico’s southwest coast and stood no risk to land.
It was approximately 1,695 kilometers west of the southern tip of Baja California on Saturday night and touching northwest at 15 kph with winds up to 85 kph.
