Hurricane Lee is a rapidly intensifying storm that is forecast to become an extremely dangerous major hurricane by Friday
Lee is expected to pass near the northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend, bringing large ocean swells and a risk of rip currents
The storm may reach Category 4 or even Category 5 strength, with winds of up to 155 mph over the weekend
The exact impact of Lee on the East Coast of the U.S. is uncertain, but it depends on when and where it turns to the north
Some models suggest that Lee could track far enough north to avoid landfall, while others indicate a possible threat to North Carolina, the Northeast or Atlantic Canada
Lee is the third major hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic season, following Franklin and Idalia
Lee is not expected to affect Florida, which is still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia last week