Tropical Storm Lee formed east of the Lesser Antilles on Tuesday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Lee was located at latitude 13.2°N and longitude 41.8°W which put it about 1315 miles (2115 km) east of the Lesser Antilles. Lee was moving toward the west-northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1005 mb.

A low pressure system within a tropical wave over the Atlantic Ocean east of the Lesser Antilles strengthened on Tuesday afternoon and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Lee. More thunderstorms developed near the center of Lee’s circulation during the afternoon. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation. Storms near the center started to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away form the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 65 miles (105 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Lee.

Tropical Storm Lee will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Lee will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Lee will intensify during the next 36 hours. Lee could strengthen to a hurricane by Thursday.

Tropical Storm Lee will move around the southern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Lee toward the west-northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Lee could be northeast of the Leeward Islands by Friday night.