Forecasters say the storm system is expected to be at or near hurricane intensity as it makes landfall in the Leeward Islands on Friday. Up to 10 inches of rain and 3 feet of storm surge could follow.
The hurricane isn't currently threatening anyone on land. That's a relief: Lee's maximum sustained winds are now predicted to top 165 mph by this weekend.
The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Lee is forecast to strengthen rapidly into an "extremely dangerous" major hurricane this weekend as it nears the Lesser Antilles and Caribbean.
Florida officials reported "potentially widespread" diesel contamination in gasoline in the Tampa area Saturday, raising alarm that car engines and power generators could break as the storm nears.
As the season is nearing its peak, the Atlantic Ocean has suddenly become very active with several storms that meteorologists and weather forecasters are watching.
The hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 and NOAA forecasters expect between 12 to 17 named storms. Of those, 5 to 9 could become hurricanes, including 1 to 4 major hurricanes.
