Bermuda under tropical storm watch as Hurricane Lee approaches

HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – The Bermuda Weather Service has placed the island under a tropical storm watch as Hurricane Lee, with winds in excess of 115 miles per hour, will begin to affect the British Overseas Territory early on Thursday.

The storm is located about 460 miles south, southwest of Bermuda, and is moving towards the northwest near six mph.

“A turn towards the north-northwest is expected later today, followed by a northward turn and an increase in speed on Thursday and Friday,” the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest weather bulletin.

The Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) is expected to meet later on Wednesday to assess Lee's potential impact and the authorities have said that the public will be notified of any decisions.

The agency said that “dangerous surf and rip currents will increase mainly along our south shores through Thursday. Winds, gusts and showers rapidly increase Thursday, peaking late Thursday night as Lee passes. Conditions improve on Friday as winds and gusts rapidly decrease throughout the day.”

It added that Lee is a very large hurricane, so while the centre is expected to remain roughly 150nm west, the country will be experiencing tropical storm-force conditions for about 24 hours, give or take a few hours.

“Lee's closest point of approach remains late Thursday night. Once the closest point of approach has passed, however, we will still remain under tropical storm-force conditions. Thursday is expected to have occasional showers, some heavier, with a chance of thunderstorms as Lee's rain bands pass through the area …

“The public is urged to begin making preparations for Lee as necessary as winds increase strong by Wednesday which may hinder some preparations,” the agency warned.

In its bulletin, the hurricane centre said that on the forecast track, the centre of Lee will pass west of Bermuda Thursday night and then approach the coast of New England or Atlantic Canada late this week.

“Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph with higher gusts.  Lee is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Slow weakening is forecast during the next few days, however, Lee is likely to remain a large and dangerous hurricane into the weekend.”

It said swells generated by Lee are affecting portions of the Lesser Antilles, the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda.

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