When you buy through link on our site , we may earn an affiliate commission . Here ’s how it works .

Tropical Storm Lee could potentially tone up into an " passing dangerous major hurricane " in the Atlantic Ocean by this weekend , theNational Hurricane Center ( NHC)reports .

predictor are monitor the tropical storm ’s path and " are surefooted " that it will next careen toward the Leeward Islands , a cluster of islands that includes the U.S. Virgin Islands and is located where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean Sea , according toThe Washington Post .

A map showing the projected path of Tropical Storm Lee.

The probable path of Tropical Storm Lee in the Atlantic Ocean.

The NHC labor that Lee could reach " hurricanestrength very presently , and to a major hurricane within 48 hours , " the NHC wrote in its Wednesday ( Sept. 6)forecast . " Continued strengthen[ing ] seems likely after that time , but hard - to - omen eyewall permutation rhythm could have some fluctuations in volume later in the weekend and early next workweek . "

relate : Which hurricane have the most damage ?

Currently , Lee is situated roughly 1,200 miles ( 1,930 km ) east of the northern Leeward Islands , with winds at approximately 70 miles per hour ( 113 klick / h ) , and is sweeping west - northwest at 14 miles per hour ( 22 km / h ) , consort to the forecast .

Belize lighthouse reef with a boat moored at Blue Hole - aerial view

Lee became a tropic storm on Tuesday ( Sept. 5 ) after forming over the central tropical Atlantic , harmonize to the NHC . If it reaches at least 74 mph ( 119 km / h ) , it will be considered a class 1 on the Saffir - Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale .

— Is Atlantic hurricane season getting worse ( and is clime modification to fault ) ?

— lethal cyclone ' Freddy ' may be the longest - lived and most energetic storm ever register

a satellite image of a hurricane cloud

— Why do hurricanes form at the equator ?

As Lee continue its impulse to the west - northwestward , lucky status will in all probability serve it become a full - flight hurricane , including " plenty of moisture , downcast wind shear and abnormally warm water [ that ] stretch nearly the intact length of [ its ] project path,“CNNreported .

Lee is not expected to impact the United States at this time , agree toCBS News .

A photograph of rain falling on a road.

It would be the 4th tropical violent storm to become a hurricane this time of year , fall out in the paths of Don , FranklinandIdalia , consort to CNN .

A pedestrial runs down a sidewalk in New York City during a bout of torrential rain.

Volunteers and residents clear up wreckage after mobile home was hit by a tornado on March 16, 2025 in Calera, Alabama.

A satellite view of stormy weather sweeping across Florida on Monday morning when the tornado hit north of Orlando.

A man walks through a flooded city street at night with water up to his ankles

Hurricane Milton captured by NASA�s GOES-East satellite as it made landfall on Florida�s west coast.

Floodwater comes up to the bottom of a "no skateboarding" street sign

Satellite imagery showing a large hurricane in the gulf of Mexico

hurricane milton from space

an illustration of a base on the moon

An aerial photo of mountains rising out of Antarctica snowy and icy landscape, as seen from NASA�s Operation IceBridge research aircraft.

A tree is silhouetted against the full completed Annular Solar Eclipse on October 14, 2023 in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.

Screen-capture of a home security camera facing a front porch during an earthquake.

Circular alignment of stones in the center of an image full of stones

Three-dimensional rendering of an HIV virus

A woman exercising on a rowing machine while observing her workout stats on an adjacent monitor