At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lee was located near latitude 17.8 North, longitude 53.5 West. Lee is moving toward
the west-northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue through early next week with a significant decrease in forward speed. On the forecast track, Lee is expected to pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend and into early
next week.
Maximum sustained winds based on data from the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft have increased to near 165 mph (270 km/h) with higher gusts. Lee is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional strengthening is forecast today.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles
(220 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 926 mb (27.35 inches).
Clcik HERE for National Hurricane Center predictions.
Most models agree that a low pressure area will provide the impetus for Lee to be pushed NE and away from the southern portion of the U.S. but we won't know for sure until after the weekend.
Photo: NOAA
As for Tropical Storm Margot,
At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Margot was located near latitude 17.4 North, longitude 30.8 West. Margot is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph (26 km/h). This general motion is expected to continue through the weekend, followed by a turn toward the northwest early next week.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is expected during the next few days, and Margot is forecast to become a hurricane over the weekend.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 mb (29.65 inches).