HURRICANE LEE ALERT STATEMENT
HURRICANE LEE ALERT STATEMENT
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES
5:03 AM ECT THU, SEP 7, 2023
THIS IS FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
…HURRICANE LEE EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY STRENGTHEN. NO SPECIFIC
ACTION IS REQUIRED OF RESIDENTS BUT TO CLOSELY MONITOR ITS
PROGRESS.
… A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LEEWARD
ISLANDS AND THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. A TROPICAL CYCLONE
ALERT MEANS THAT, IN THIS CASE, A TROPICAL CYCLONE IS IN THE
AREA WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE WITHIN
THE NEXT 24 – 48 HOURS. HOWEVER NO WATCHES OR WARNINGS ARE
NECESSARY AT THIS TIME…
AT 5AM ECT OR 0900Z THE CENTRE OF HURRICANE LEE WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 16.1 NORTH, AND 48.6 WEST OR ABOUT 1002 MILES EAST
OF ST. KITTS AND NEVIS AND ABOUT 1067 MILES EAST SOUTH-EAST OF
THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.
LEE IS MOVING TOWARDS THE WEST NORTH-WEST NEAR 14 MPH AND
THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 80 MPH (130 KM/H) WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. RAPID INTENSIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATER
TODAY, AND LEE IS FORECAST TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BY
EARLY FRIDAY.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND UP TO 15 MILES FROM THE CENTRE,
AND TROPICAL STORM WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 90 MILES.
THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 989 MB OR 29.21
INCHES.
HURRICANE LEE IS LOCATED TO THE EAST OF THE ISLANDS. ON ITS
PRESENT TRACK LEE IS EXPECTED TO PASS TO THE NORTH OF THE AREA
LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AS A MAJOR HURRICANE. LARGE SWELLS
ARE LIKELY TO AFFECT COASTAL AREAS BEGINNING ON FRIDAY. OTHER
SPECIFIC IMPACTS WITH RESPECT TO WINDS AND RAINFALL DEPEND ON
THE PROXIMITY OF ITS EVENTUAL PATH. NO SPECIFIC ACTION IS
REQUIRED OF RESIDENTS AT THIS TIME OTHER THAN TO CLOSELY
MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF HURRICANE LEE.
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE AT 11AM E.T.C
FORECASTER ORVIN PAIGE
