Tropical Storm Lee forms in central Atlantic, forecast to become category 3 hurricane

Tropical Depression 13 is now Tropical Storm Lee.

Action News Jax First Alert Weather Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh said this is the 12th named storm of the Atlantic season and is forecast to become a major category 3 hurricane as early as the end of this week.

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Buresh said the system will stay over the open Atlantic through the weekend. Here’s what he said you need to know about Lee:

• There may be some fringe effects for Puerto Rico over the weekend *based on the current forecast*

• Could bring waves to our NE FL./SE Ga. coastline & beaches by early next week

• Another tropical wave behind Lee has a good chance to develop this week

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Buresh said in Talking the Tropics with Mike if this is a threat for any of the U.S. lower 48, it would appear to be north of Jacksonville.

Buresh said it’s possible it could stay east of the entire eastern seaboard, but way too early to know definitively. The forecast models are in remarkably good agreement at the moment showing a powerful hurricane with the GFS generally a little faster with forward movement vs. the European.

The Action News Jax First Alert Weather Team is monitoring all tropical activity in the Atlantic and will provide updates on CBS47 and FOX30.

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