The latest analysis shows Lee has sustained wind speeds of around 120 mph, making the storm a Category 3, as it slowly churns in the southwestern Atlantic ocean.
Friday, sapping some of the storm's strength and knocking it down to a Category 3. Lee has dropped to a Category 2 storm on Saturday but is expected to reenergize into a major hurricane early next week as it slowly swirls in the Southwestern Atlantic. According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Lee is about 280 miles to the east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands.
The hurricane continues to head in a west-northwest direction and has begun slowing down over the southwestern Atlantic where it is expected to regain its major status. Hurricane Lee is expected to continue moving west-northwest in the open waters of the southwestern Atlantic during the coming days, remaining far to the east of the Bahamas by early next week.
On the current track, Lee is expected to pass well north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the next couple of days. While Lee had dropped in intensity Friday and early Saturday, forecasters say during the early workweek, the hurricane could regain Category 4 status, if atmospheric conditions are conducive.