Forecast models show a trough turning Lee north well offshore of Florida.
5 p.m. Update:
Tropical Depression 13 strengthened into Tropical Storm Lee on Tuesday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said.
Lee is expected to rapidly intensify into an extremely dangerous hurricane by the weekend as it moves over the incredibly warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
“The forecast track is generally north of the Leeward islands and Puerto Rico,” certified meteorologist George Waldenberger said. “We’ll still be watching for any shifts closer to these areas just in case.”
At the very least, we’ll be watching increasing waves on the north sides of those islands, he said.
“Lee is expected to curve to the north while staying off Florida’s east coast, but it will likely generate strong rip currents and high waves at our beaches later next week,” Waldenberger said.
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Cedar Key clean-up Andy Bair hangs a fish outside of his historic Cedar Key hotel after Hurricane Idalia. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up A lineman fixes a power line damaged during Hurricane Idalia. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Mike Hodges stands next to debris piled outside of his family home following Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up A sign on a now-washed away beach in Cedar Key, FL following Hurricane Idalia. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Leslie Fine looks at damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Two people hug in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key, FL. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Debris piled on the main street of Cedar Key, FL following Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)
Tropical Weather Florida Lorena Torres, left, and Jorge Larancuent clean up debris from Hurricane Idalia Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)
Tropical Weather Florida Jorge Larancuent cleans up debris from Hurricane Idalia at the Faraway Inn Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)
Tropical Weather Florida The sign to the Faraway Inn is damaged as Jorge Laranacuent cleans up debris from Hurricane Idalia Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)
Tropical Weather Florida Lorena Torres cleans up debris from Hurricane Idalia at the Faraway Inn, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)
Tropical Weather Florida Andy Bair, owner of the Island Hotel and Restaurant closes up a storage area on his hotel that shows how high the water rose from the effects of Hurricane Idalia Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)
Tropical Weather Florida Workers replace boards on a restaurant as they begin to rebuild Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla., after they were damaged by Hurricane Idalia. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)
Tropical Weather Florida An inn bears damage from Hurricane Idalia, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)
Tropical Weather Florida Workers replace boards on a restaurant in Cedar Key, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023., after they were damaged by Hurricane Idalia. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)
Tropical Weather Florida Workers begin replacing the Hurricane Idalia damaged roof at Steamers restaurant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)
Tropical Weather Florida Lorena Torres, left, and Jorge Larancuent clean up debris from Hurricane Idalia at the Faraway Inn Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)
10:40 a.m. update:
The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Depression Thirteen has formed over the central Atlantic Ocean.
Forecast data shows TD-13 could continue to strengthen into Tropical Storm Lee on Tuesday.
Channel 9 meteorologists are monitoring all tropical activity in the Atlantic and will provide updates on Eyewitness News at Noon.
Original report:
Channel 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said early indications are that the system will curve and not be a threat to Florida, but it is too early to tell for certain.
Shields said the storm should be north of Puerto Rico by this weekend, and is currently forecast to curve east of the Bahamas.
Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates.
Tropical disturbance The strong tropical disturbance in the Atlantic is forecast to become a tropical depression or tropical storm on Tuesday. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Hurricane season names These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Arlene These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Bret These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Cindy These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Don These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Emily These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Franklin These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Gert These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Harold These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Idalia These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Jose These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Katia These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Lee These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Margot These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Nigel These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Ophelia These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Philippe These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Rina These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Sean These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Tammy These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Vince These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Whitney These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
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