AccuWeather meteorologists continue to track the path of Hurricane Lee as it churns north of the Caribbean. They say it will restrengthen to a major hurricane over the next day or so as it moves over abnormally warm ocean waters.

Hurricane Lee grew rapidly into a monster Category 5 hurricane churning over the Atlantic last Friday morning. It will remain a powerful and dangerous hurricane as it spins well north of the Leeward Islands on Sunday, prior to taking a northward turn along the East coast of the United States by the middle of this week. AccuWeather meteorologists warn that the threat of impacts in eastern New England is increasing, and much of the East Coast will experience high seas and dangerous surf.

Lee, which was named in the central Atlantic on Tuesday, was located about 280 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean by Sunday morning. It was a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph.

Due to its mega strengthening from Thursday to Friday morning, becoming a Category 5 for a period of time, Lee holds the title of the strongest hurricane to churn in the Atlantic during the 2023 season.

Lee becomes a monster hurricane

Hurricane Lee had undergone a rapid intensification, reaching top-tier Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale and packing 165-mph winds early Friday morning. Just 24 hours prior, it had been an 80-mph Category 1 hurricane. Rapid intensification occurs when a tropical system's sustained winds increase by 35 mph or more in 24 hours. Lee had more than doubled down on the criteria needed for rapid intensification, which is extremely rare.