Lee grows as a major cyclone and Margot will soon be a hurricane

Hurricane Lee has strengthened to major status again, with maximum sustained winds of 120 miles per hour (195 kilometers), while the tropical storm Margot could become a cyclone this Monday.

Neither of them present a threat on land for now, according to the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC).

However, the agency, based in Miami, warned that due to Lee, dangerous conditions may spread on the beaches of the western Atlantic during the week.

Lee, category 3 out of a total of 5, is about 285 miles (455 kilometers) north of the Leeward Islands (Lesser Antilles), according to the latest NHC bulletin.

The cyclone is moving west-northwest at a speed of 8 miles per hour (13 km). In recent days Lee had reached category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale and dropped to 2.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km).

Forecasters predict Lee will pass well north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the next two days.

Additional strengthening is expected over the next few days. Some intensity fluctuations are possible on Monday and Tuesday.

The organization pointed out that “Dangerous breaking waves and life-threatening ocean currents are affecting the northern Leeward Islands, the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and Bermuda.”

Meanwhile, the NHC stresses that Margot is stronger and better organized, with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour (100 km) and is likely to become a hurricane on Monday.

The storm was about 1,175 miles (1,895 km) west of the Cape Verde Islands and was moving north at about 9 miles per hour (15 km). Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 80 miles (130 km) from the center.

Source: EFE