Hurricane Lee (2023)


Contributors to Wikimedia projects

Article Images
Template:Infobox weather event/CurrentTemplate:Infobox weather event/live

Hurricane Lee is a weakening Cape Verde hurricane that is currently threatening New England and Atlantic Canada. The thirteenth named storm, fourth hurricane, and the third major hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, Lee formed on September 5, from a tropical depression that developed from a tropical wave that had moved offshore from West Africa into the tropical Atlantic a few days earlier. A strong steering current caused the storm to track northwestward, and well east of the Northern Leeward Islands, where highly favorable conditions enabled it to rapidly intensify into a Category 5 hurricane on September 7. Since that time, Lee's strength has fluctuated on account of strong wind shear and multiple eyewall replacement cycles. The system is presently located west of Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane.

Hurricane Lee
Satellite image of Hurricane Lee

Satellite image

 Forecast map for Hurricane Lee

Forecast map
Part of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season

Meteorological history

 
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) began to monitor a tropical wave over West Africa early on September 1.[1] The wave moved offshore into the tropical Atlantic Ocean on September 2,[2] producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity, and began to gradually organize. An area of low pressure formed from the wave two days later to the west-southwest of Cabo Verde.[3] On September 5, the low became more organized, with multiple low-level bands developing and the formation of a well-defined center. Consequently, advisories were initiated on Tropical Depression Thirteen at 15:00 UTC that day.[4] Amid favorable conditions for intensification, which included warm sea surface temperatures, moderate wind shear, and moderate mid-level relative humidity,[5] the depression quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Lee within a few hours.[6] Lee tracked west-northwestward, steered by a mid-level ridge located to its north, and continued to intensify as it became better organized, with increased convective banding, development of a central dense overcast, and formation of a ragged eye, evident in visible satellite imagery by the following afternoon. By 21:00 UTC on September 6, the system strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane[7] while located far to the east of the Northern Leeward Islands.[8] Explosive intensification began the next day, with Lee reaching Category 2 strength at 15:00 UTC,[9] before reaching Category 4 strength at 21:00 UTC.[10] A few hours later, a hurricane hunters mission into the storm found that it had reached Category 5 strength, and possessed a clear 17 mi-wide (28 km) eye surrounded by convective cloud tops with temperatures as low as −105 °F (−76 °C).[11] By 06:00 UTC on September 8, Lee's maximum sustained winds reached 165 mph (270 km/h), an increase of 85 mph (140 km/h) in 24 hours, making it the third‑fastest intensifying Atlantic hurricane on record, behind only Felix in 2007 and Wilma in 2005.[12] During this same time period, the hurricane's minimum barometric pressure fell to 926 mbar (27.34 inHg).[13]

Several hours later, however, an increase of southwesterly wind shear caused Lee's eye to become cloud filled and the storm to become more asymmetric.[14] Lee then rapidly weakened to a low-end Category 3 hurricane by early on September 9.[15] Later that day, data from an evening hurricane hunters mission into the storm revealed that Lee was undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle and still being adversely affected by modest vertical wind shear; also observed were peak flight-level winds that were down from an earlier mission. As a result of these findings, the hurricane was downgraded to Category 2 at 03:00 UTC on September 10.[16] Afterwards, as the system was completing its eyewall replacement cycle, the wind shear began to abate, which permitted the new, larger-diameter eye to contract and to grow more symmetric; as a result, Lee intensified to Category 3 strength once again that same day.[17] Lee's overall appearance improved in the short term, and surface barometric pressure dropped, wind speeds, however, did not increase in response to the pressure drop.[18] The system underwent two eyewall replacement cycles over the course of the next couple days; and while they caused some fluctuations in its size and intensity, Lee remained a major hurricane throughout.[19][20] Lee slowly tracked west-northwestward to northwestward during this time,[19][21] before turning northward on September 13, moving around the western side of a subtropical ridge situated over the central Atlantic.[22] That same day, the hurricane weakened to Category 2 strength, but remained a large and strong hurricane, with hurricane force extending outward up to 115 mi (185 km) from its center and tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 240 mi (390 km).[23] Then, on the morning of September 14, Lee became a Category 1 hurricane, its eye was no longer apparent in satellite images and deep convection absent over the southwestern portions of the storm circulation.[24] Later in the day, the system made a close 210 mi (340 km) pass to the west of Bermuda.[25]

Current storm information

As of 11:00 a.m. AST September 13 (15:00 UTC September 14), Hurricane Lee is located within 20 nautical miles of 30°24′N 68°18′W / 30.4°N 68.3°W, about 245 miles (395 km) west-southwest of Bermuda and about 750 miles (1,205 km) south of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Maximum sustained winds are 90 mph (150 km/h), with gusts up to 115 mph (185 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 956 mbar (28.23 inHg), and the system is moving north at 14 mph (22 km/h). Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (145 km) and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 310 miles (500 km) from the center.

For the latest official information, see:

Watches and warnings

Template:HurricaneWarningsTable

Preparations

Caribbean

A tropical cyclone alert was in effect for the Leeward Islands and the British Virgin Islands on September 7–8.[26][27] Additionally, a 5‑day high surf warning was issued for the British Virgin Islands on September 8.[28]

On September 7, the United States federal government deployed food, water, and rapid response teams to Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.[29] A high surf warning was also issued for both territories.[30]

Bermuda

Bermuda received tropical storm watches on September 12.[31] They were upgraded to warnings.[32]

United States

Jamestown-Newport ferry service was suspended, and planned arrivals for five cruise ships associated with an international boat show were cancelled.[33] Hurricane, tropical storm, and storm surge watches were issued for the New England coastline from Rhode Island to Maine.[34] Parts of northern Maine recieved their first hurricane watch since Hurricane Kyle back in 2008.[35] Boats were pulled from waters or were sheltered in protected harbors in Nantucket, Massachusetts.[36] Maine governor Janet Mills declared a state of emergency and requested United States president Joe Biden to issue an emergency disaster declaration for the state.[37]

Canada

Environment Canada issued hurricane watches for parts of Charlotte County, particularly its coast and Grand Manan Island in New Brunswick, as well as Nova Scotia's Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens counties. Further tropical storm watches were issued for southeastern New Brunswick as well as several parts of Nova Scotia.[38] Cancellations were made for cruise ships scheduled to stop at Port Saint John.[39]

See also

References

  1. ^ Reinhart, Brad (September 1, 2023). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  2. ^ Roberts, Dave (September 2, 2023). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  3. ^ Blake, Eric (September 4, 2023). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  4. ^ Blake, Eric (September 5, 2023). Tropical Depression Thirteen Discussion Number 1 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  5. ^ Masters, Jeff; Henson, Bob (September 5, 2023). "Tropical Depression 13 poised to become a powerful hurricane". New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  6. ^ Blake, Eric (September 5, 2023). Tropical Storm Lee Discussion Number 2 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  7. ^ Brown, Daniel (September 6, 2023). Hurricane Lee Discussion Number 6 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Brown, Daniel (September 6, 2023). Hurricane Lee Advisory Number 6 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Zelinsky, David (September 7, 2023). Hurricane Lee Advisory Number 9 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  10. ^ Zelinsky, David (September 7, 2023). Hurricane Lee Advisory Number 10 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  11. ^ Berg, Robbie (September 7, 2023). Hurricane Lee Discussion Number 11 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  12. ^ Masters, Jeff; Henson, Bob (September 8, 2023). "Hurricane Lee peaks as a Cat 5 with 165-mph winds". New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  13. ^ Cangialosi, John (September 8, 2023). Hurricane Lee Advisory Number 12 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  14. ^ Brown, Daniel (September 8, 2023). "Hurricane Lee Discussion Number 13". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  15. ^ "Hurricane Lee Discussion Number 15". www.nhc.noaa.gov. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  16. ^ Papin, Philippe (September 9, 2023). Hurricane Lee Discussion Number 19 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  17. ^ Brown, Daniel (September 10, 2023). Hurricane Lee Discussion Number 22 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  18. ^ Papin, Philippe (September 10, 2023). Hurricane Lee Discussion Number 23 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Cangialosi, John (September 11, 2023). Hurricane Lee Discussion Number 25 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  20. ^ Masters, Jeff; Henson, Bob (September 12, 2023). "Hurricane Lee grows in size, maintaining its intensity". New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  21. ^ Papin, Philippe (September 11, 2023). Hurricane Lee Discussion Number 27 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  22. ^ Cangialosi, John (September 13, 2023). Hurricane Lee Discussion Number 33 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  23. ^ Cangialosi, John (September 13, 2023). Hurricane Lee Intermediate Advisory Number 33A (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  24. ^ Brown, Daniel (September 14, 2023). Hurricane Lee Advisory Number 37 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  25. ^ Brown, Daniel (September 14, 2023). Hurricane Lee Discussion Number 38 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  26. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Alert". Tortola, British Virgin Islands: BVI Department of Disaster Management. September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  27. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Alert Discontinued". Tortola, British Virgin Islands: BVI Department of Disaster Management. September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  28. ^ "High Surf Warning for the Virgin Islands". Tortola, British Virgin Islands: BVI Department of Disaster Management. September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  29. ^ Pulver, Dinah Voyles; Rice, Doyle; Santucci, Jeanine (September 8, 2023). "Hurricane Lee to pose 'extreme' risk at East Coast beaches; NHC says too soon to know path". USA Today. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  30. ^ "Hurricane Lee generates big swells along northern Caribbean while it churns through open waters". Associated Press. September 11, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  31. ^ Salam, Erum (September 12, 2023). "Hurricane Lee heads north with landfall expected in Nova Scotia or Maine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  32. ^ Shackelford, Robert; Elamroussi, Aya; Gillbert, Mary (September 13, 2023). "Massive Hurricane Lee prompts tropical storm and hurricane watches for coastal New England as threat grows". CNN. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  33. ^ Dunning, Savana (September 13, 2023). "Preparations begin across Aquidneck Island for Hurricane Lee. What's being done". Newport Daily News. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  34. ^ Cangialosi, John (September 13, 2023). "Hurricane Lee Advisory Number 34". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  35. ^ "After days of heavy rain and flash flooding in New England, Hurricane Lee is up next". NewsPressNow. September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  36. ^ Bushard, Brian. "Hurricane Lee Poses Rare New England Threat—Here's Where Forecasters Say It Will Land". Forbes. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  37. ^ Ciampi, Raquel (September 14, 2023). "State of Emergency declared ahead of Hurricane Lee's arrival to Maine". WMTW. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  38. ^ "Hurricane, tropical storm watches issued in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick". Atlantic. September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  39. ^ "'Very wet and windy weekend': Saint John port, officials gearing up for Hurricane Lee - New Brunswick | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved September 14, 2023.