Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

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There’s a new hurricane to watch in the tropical Atlantic.

 is still churning more than 1,000 miles east of the Leeward Islands. But it’s getting the attention of forecasters on the United States East Coast. 

Lee reached hurricane status Wednesday afternoon. 

Warm water and a favorable atmosphere over the Atlantic are expected to help Lee intensify in the coming days. Forecasts call for Lee to reach major hurricane strength as it tracks northwest over the next week. 

Most models crank Lee’s intensity up to Category 4 strength.

The majority of forecast models keep Lee on a northwest track for the next several days, then begin to curve Lee rapidly north next week. 

But forecasts a week out can be prone to unseen shifts in the upper winds and larger hurricane steering patterns. Lee is currently forecast to come close enough to the U.S. week that any westward track shift could bring the system dangerously close to the East Coast.

Lee is most likely to miss the eastern U.S. next week, but it will need to be watched closely.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Hurricane Lee likely to reach major category strength. 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA/NHC

NOAA via spaghettimodels.com 

European model (ECMWF) 240 hour forecast 

Hurricane Lee likely to become a major hurricane

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