GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Hurricane Lee has now upgraded back to major hurricane strength, as of the 11 a.m. advisory, as a category 3 storm. As of the update, winds are at 115 MPH, with gust up to 130 MPH. It is currently moving at the northwest at 8 MPH.
Lee will gradually continue to move in a northward motion over the next day and this motion is expected to continue for the next five days before eventually turning towards Bermuda by Friday, as a category 1 storm. It is still too early to speculate on what, or if any, potential impacts the system may have late week.
With the center of Lee offshore, the storm will be within 350 miles of the US coastline. Therefore, the storm will be close enough to invoke elevated surf, rip currents and potential overwash along Highway 12. Over the next few days if you are planning to travel to the Crystal Coast or Outer Banks, please avoid the rough surf if possible. Rip currents are narrow channels of water, that flow away from the main shoreline. If you are caught in a rip current, it is important to remain calm and swim parallel to shore. Never swim against a rip current!
As of the 11 a.m. update on Tropical Storm Margot, winds are at 50 MPH and gusts have increased up to 65 MPH, and is moving at the north at 9 MPH. Margot continues to exhibit poor organization as the system to battle dry air and mid to upper level wind shear. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center project that Margot will become a low end category 1 hurricane by Tuesday morning.
Use this time to prepare your hurricane kits if you haven’t done so yet this year, but this is not a time to panic or worry.
Stay with WITN and WITN.COM as we continue to track the remaining name storms this hurricane season.