Too Early To Know Where It Will Go. Models Diverge. Wind Speeds To Hit 145 MPH.
BY: WEATHER TEAM | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Tropical Storm Lee formed Tuesday, just hours after the National Hurricane Center identified it as Tropical Depression 13. While very early in the forecast track, the current guidance points it in the general direction of Florida. The system is expected to become a major hurricane. Models diverge on where it may end up.
From the National Hurricane Center Tuesday afternoon:
Tropical Storm Lee Discussion Number 2
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL132023
500 PM AST Tue Sep 05 2023
1-min GOES-16 satellite imagery shows that the tropical cyclone has
been improving in structure throughout the day, with additional
curved banding features and a new burst of convection near the
center. A late-arriving ASCAT-C pass indicated maximum winds
supporting 35 kt, and the satellite presentation has notably
improved since that time. The initial wind speed is set to 40 kt
to match the satellite trends.
Lee is moving west-northwestward at about 14 kt. There are no
significant changes to the NHC track forecast with a mid-level ridge
over the central Atlantic likely to persist to the north of the
storm. This ridge should provide a steady steering current, with a
general west-northwestward course expected through the weekend with
some reduction in forward speed. The spread in the model guidance
remains low, and the official forecast is adjusted a bit to the
northeast closer to the model consensus. Still, it is too early to
determine exactly how close this system will be to the Leeward
Islands given the average track forecast error at those time ranges.
It is becoming a question of when and not if rapid intensification
(RI) occurs with Lee. A well-defined outflow pattern has developed
over the circulation, and there are some hints on a recent SSMI/S
microwave pass that parts of an inner core are forming. There’s
still some notable northeasterly shear that could keep Lee in
check for the next day or two, so the NHC intensity forecast will
stay at a more moderate rate of intensification during that time.
All of the models decrease the shear by Friday, so RI is explicitly
forecast at that time frame while Lee is moving over extremely warm
waters. The new forecast is adjusted higher than the last advisory,
near the model consensus, but there’s a notable contingent of
guidance higher than this forecast. There is increasing confidence
on Lee becoming a very powerful hurricane by this weekend.
KEY MESSAGES:
1. Lee is forecast to become a major hurricane by this weekend and
could bring impacts to the Leeward Islands by that time. While it
is too soon to determine the location and magnitude of these
possible impacts, interests in this area should monitor the
progress of Lee and further updates to the forecast.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 05/2100Z 13.2N 41.8W 40 KT 45 MPH
12H 06/0600Z 13.7N 43.7W 50 KT 60 MPH
24H 06/1800Z 14.4N 46.2W 60 KT 70 MPH
36H 07/0600Z 15.2N 48.5W 70 KT 80 MPH
48H 07/1800Z 16.2N 51.0W 80 KT 90 MPH
60H 08/0600Z 17.2N 53.6W 90 KT 105 MPH
72H 08/1800Z 18.3N 56.0W 110 KT 125 MPH
96H 09/1800Z 20.4N 60.5W 120 KT 140 MPH
120H 10/1800Z 22.2N 64.3W 125 KT 145 MPH
