What’s it like inside the eye of Hurricane Lee? See video from the Hurricane Hunters.
Hurricane Lee keeps getting stronger as the U.S. watches and waits for a hopeful turn point to the north.
The dangerous major hurricane underwent rapid intensification in a 24-hour span and had winds of 165 mph, making it a Category 5 storm, at 5 a.m. EST.
The storm slightly weakened by 11 a.m. EST, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Lee had winds of 155 mph, down to a Cat 4 but only by 2 mph.
Radar videos and gifs have gone viral on Twitter showing the progression of the storm, particularly focusing on the well-defined eye.
The Hurricane Hunters — based in Biloxi, Mississippi — released never-before-seen video footage from inside the eye of Lee from the Air Force squadron’s trip into the storm on Thursday night.
The video shows constant strikes of lightning that illuminate Lee’s eye wall.
The Hurricane Hunters will likely ride into the hurricane several more times as Lee moves in the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend.
The NHC forecast says the storm will remain a powerful major hurricane and slow down over the weekend.
It’s too soon to tell where Lee is headed late next week and if there will be any impacts on the U.S.
A more northern turn is expected by Wednesday.
Regardless, Hurricane Lee will bring dangerous waves and rip tide currents to much of the East Coast.
Keep up with the latest on Hurricane Lee at hurricanes.gov.
This story was originally published September 8, 2023 at 10:18 AM.
