A rapidly intensifying Hurricane Lee is currently in the Atlantic Ocean, with the potential to become a Category 5 storm. The National Hurricane Center projects the storm to reach Category 4 strength with 155 mph winds by Saturday. However, a storm system forming over the central US may interact with Hurricane Lee, potentially steering it away from the US coast. There are three possible scenarios for the storm's path: a worst-case scenario where the storm hits the East Coast, a scenario where it recurves and heads out to sea, and a most likely scenario where the storm is pushed away from the US but still causes major problems. The storm's impact, if any, is expected to occur between September 14th and 17th.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Hurricane Lee is rapidly intensifying in the Atlantic Ocean.
2. The storm is headed towards the east coast of the United States.
3. Another storm system is forming over the central US and may interact with Hurricane Lee.
4. The National Hurricane Center's projected track for Hurricane Lee is a straight line paralleling the Caribbean islands.
5. Hurricane Lee's sustained winds are around 80 miles per hour.
6. The storm has strengthened to a Category 2 storm with 105 mile per hour winds.
7. Hurricane Lee is expected to continue to strengthen due to the presence of huge thunderstorms around its center.
8. The storm is expected to reach Category 4 strength with winds around 155 miles per hour by Saturday.
9. The environment in the Atlantic is primed for hurricane growth, with high sea surface temperatures and low wind shear.
10. A storm system forming over the central US may interact with Hurricane Lee and affect its path.
11. The Climate Prediction Center is calling for cooler-than-average temperatures across the majority of the US in their latest 10-day outlook.
12. Hurricane Lee is expected to make a hard turn to the north as soon as Wednesday of next week and then race up the Atlantic.
13. The majority of forecast models show Hurricane Lee taking a path that will keep it away from the US but potentially cause major problems along the way.
14. If Hurricane Lee takes this path, it will not be a Category 5 storm once it interacts with land.
15. The storm may weaken significantly as it interacts with the trough and upper-level wind shear.