The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Depression 13 has organized and intensified into Tropical Storm Lee.
As of Tuesday afternoon at 5 p.m., the system was 1,315 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. The depression had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving west-northwest at 16 mph.
“The depression is forecast to be a hurricane in a couple of days and could become a major hurricane in a few days,” the National Hurricane Center said.
Meteorologist Eric Burris says models hint it could get close to the Caribbean islands and perhaps the U.S. East Coast. Models suggest that the storm will turn north and stay out to sea, but it is still early, and the storm should be watched closely.
“For now, computer models do recurve this safely off our east coast, however, I’d just urge you to follow them, looking for trends and nothing more. I like the consistency that they have, keeping it well east of us, but I’d simply say let’s watch and make sure we aren’t caught off guard,” Burris said.
Regardless of where it heads, models show the storm intensifying into a strong hurricane.
Additionally, there are two other disturbances being monitored:
The first is in the Eastern Tropical Atlantic, a strong tropical wave that is expected to move off the coast of West Africa on Tuesday. The system has a 70% chance of development in seven days and a 30% chance of development in two days.
“Environmental conditions appear conducive for development once the wave moves offshore, and a tropical depression could form over the far eastern tropical Atlantic during the middle to later part of the week while the system moves to the west or west-northwest at 10 to 15 mph,” the NHC said.
The second is post-tropical Cyclone Franklin, which has been given a 20% chance of re-development in the next seven days.
“This system could acquire some subtropical or tropical characteristics late this week or this weekend while it moves erratically between the Azores and Portugal,” the NHC said.
