Lee becomes category 1 hurricane

For the third time in as many weeks, Bermuda residents are anxiously watching a potential hurricane which may come close to the 22 square mile island.

Lee became a category one hurricane today and is projected to become a category 4 hurricane overnight on Friday.

It is currently 1,509 miles southeast of Bermuda, moving west-northwest at 14mph. It is currently packing winds of 80mph gusting to 97mph.

By Sunday morning it is expected to be 784 miles south-southeast of Bermuda, with sustained winds of 150mph.

Longer term models project Lee could turn north by Monday and start to move in the general direction of Bermuda, passing later next week.  Those models show the storm passing to the west of the island.

The Atlantic hurricane season has picked up in the last three weeks, with Hurricane Idalia making landfall in northern Florida and causing an estimated $3 billion to $5 billion in insured losses as it passed over Georgia and South Carolina before heading back out to sea. It passed Bermuda over the weekend, causing minor damage.

The previous week, Hurricane Franklin, a compact category 4 hurricane, also brushed past Bermuda, causing minimal damage.