Current Snapshot

The Pacific Disaster Center’s (PDC Global) Thursday, September 7, 2023, Tropical Cyclone Activity Report…for the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico

CURRENT TROPICAL CYCLONES:

Tropical Cyclone 13L (Lee)…is located about 705 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands

Tropical Cyclone 14L (Margot)…is located about 290 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands

Atlantic Ocean

Tropical Cyclone 13L (Lee)

LEE BECOMES A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE…DANGEROUS BEACH CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AROUND THE
WESTERN ATLANTIC THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK

According to the NHC advisory number 11…

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.

Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 160 mph (260 km/h) with higher gusts. Lee is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional strengthening is forecast overnight. Fluctuations in intensity are likely over the next few days, but Lee is expected to remain a major hurricane through early next week.

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).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

SURF: Swells generated by Lee are expected to reach portions of the Lesser Antilles on Friday, and reach the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Bahamas, and Bermuda this weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Tropical Cyclone 14L Margot

MARGOT MOVING WEST-NORTHWESTWARD ACROSS THE TROPICAL EASTERN ATLANTIC

According to the NHC advisory number 3…

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 are 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.