Hurricane Lee brings dangerous rip currents, coastal erosion to Central Florida’s beaches

ORLANDO, Fla. — Update:

Hurricane Lee remained a strong Category 2 storm Wednesday as it moved through the western Atlantic, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 105 mph.

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Lee will stay far away from Florida -- about 800 miles.

Chief meteorologist Tom Terry said we can, however, expect 5 to 7 foot breaking waves at Central Florida’s beaches through Friday.

Lee will be tracking toward Nova Scotia, Canada, this weekend, he said.

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Hurricane Margot is farther offshore, and we could have Nigel form by this weekend, moving on a path similar to Lee.

Watch updates from Terry on Channel 9 Eyewitness News by clicking here.

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Hurricane season names These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)

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Hurricane Idalia TARPON SPRINGS, FLORIDA - AUGUST 30: A person rides a kayak through the flooded streets caused by Hurricane Idalia passing offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Earlier story:

Afternoon forecast: Wednesday, Sept. 13 Afternoon forecast: Wednesday, Sept. 13 (George Waldenberger, WFTV.com/WFTV)

Hurricane Lee remains a powerful Category 3 storm as it moves through the western Atlantic.

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Thankfully Lee will stay far from Florida, but that doesn’t mean it will have no impact.

Lee is such a large storm system that it will bring major concerns to our local beaches, despite staying around 100 miles from the coastline.

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Central Florida beaches will see dangerous rip currents and beach erosion over the next several days.

The peak of the waves and coastal impact will be on Thursday.

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Lee will also continue to move to the north and could directly impact the northeastern U.S. and Canada.

Lee is forecast to come ashore in Maine or Nova Scotia by the weekend.

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Hurricane Margot is spinning over the Central Atlantic and is expected to stay out at sea.

Channel 9 meteorologists are also monitoring another area of tropical disturbance in the eastern Atlantic that will slowly develop over the next few days.

It’s still too early to forecast where the disturbance will go.

Follow our Severe Weather team on X for live updates:

• Chief meteorologist Tom Terry
• Kassandra Crimi
• George Waldenberger
• Brian Shields

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