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Hurricane Lee Discussion Number  20
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL132023
500 AM AST Sun Sep 10 2023
 
Lee still seems to be feeling the effects of moderate southwesterly 
wind shear, dry air, and internal structural changes.  An Air Force 
Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft reported earlier that the eyewall 
had deteriorated to only a few curved bands.  Geostationary 
satellite imagery and earlier dropsonde data suggested that some dry 
air is wrapping around the eastern and northern portion of the 
circulation. The aircraft found maximum surface winds of 86 kt, and 
a minimum central pressure of 957 mb.  The initial intensity is held 
at a possibly generous 90 kt based on these data.
 
The hurricane is moving to the west-northwest at 8 kt on the 
southern side of a mid-level high pressure system.  The high is 
expected to build west-southwestward over the next day or so, which 
should slow Lee's forward speed.  By mid-week, a mid-latitude trough 
is forecast to weaken the ridge and gradually turn Lee northward.  
Global models differ significantly in the forward speed of the 
hurricane, especially by the end of the forecast period. The 
official track forecast is similar to the previous advisory and 
generally favors the slower guidance, lying between the HCCA and 
TCVN consensus aid.

A satellite analysis product from UW/CIMSS indicates that there is a 
gradient of moderate-to-strong southwesterly shear over Lee.  This 
product suggests that the GFS, which is analyzing lower values of 
shear, may not be accurately representing the environment near the 
hurricane.  Still, most of the model guidance predicts the shear 
should relax, allowing Lee to strengthen in the next 36-48 h.  The 
latest intensity forecast has been lowered slightly from the 
previous advisory, now showing a peak intensity of 115 kt.  Beyond 
day 2, environmental and oceanic conditions are expected to become 
less conducive and cause Lee to gradually weaken.  The NHC track 
forecast remains in the middle of guidance envelop, near the various 
consensus aids.
 
 
KEY MESSAGES:
 
1. Lee's core is expected to move well north of the northern
Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico early this 
week.
 
2. Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents are affecting 
portions of the northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico.  These 
conditions are spreading westward and northward and will affect 
Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, and Bermuda during 
the next several days.
 
3. It remains too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee 
might have along the U.S. East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda 
late next week, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow 
down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic.  Regardless, 
dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the U.S. 
East Coast beginning soon and continuing through the week as Lee 
grows in size. Users should continue to monitor updates to the 
forecast of Lee during the next several days.
 
 
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
 
INIT  10/0900Z 21.4N  60.5W   90 KT 105 MPH
 12H  10/1800Z 22.0N  61.5W   95 KT 110 MPH
 24H  11/0600Z 22.8N  62.8W  105 KT 120 MPH
 36H  11/1800Z 23.3N  64.0W  115 KT 130 MPH
 48H  12/0600Z 23.6N  65.2W  115 KT 130 MPH
 60H  12/1800Z 23.9N  66.1W  110 KT 125 MPH
 72H  13/0600Z 24.5N  66.9W  105 KT 120 MPH
 96H  14/0600Z 26.5N  68.0W   95 KT 110 MPH
120H  15/0600Z 30.2N  68.0W   80 KT  90 MPH
 
$$
Forecaster Bucci
 
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