Hurricane Lee has strengthened into a major Category 5 storm, packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 160 mph as it spins over the Atlantic well east of the Caribbean, the National Hurricane Center said in an 11 p.m. ET advisory Thursday.
Lee, which was a Category 1 storm earlier Thursday, has been intensifying with exceptional speed in warm ocean waters, doubling its wind speeds in the last 24 hours. The hurricane was located about 700 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, the hurricane center said in the 11 p.m. advisory.
Once that turn to the north occurs, the position of the jet stream – strong upper-level winds that can change the direction of a hurricane’s path – will influence how closely Lee is steered to the US. Scenario: Out to Sea Lee could make a quick turn to the north early next week if high pressure weakens significantly. If the jet stream sets up along the East Coast, it will act as a barrier that prevents Lee from approaching the coast.
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