MIAMI _ A tropical depression that formed late Thursday in the far east Atlantic may become Tropical Storm Lee over the weekend.
In their 11 a.m. EDT update, National Hurricane Center forecasters said wind shear over the next three days may slow the storm's quick intensification earlier projected. However, sustained winds could still reach 60 mph in 36 to 48 hours. Over the long run, the storm should weaken as it faces even stronger shear.
A weaker storm, however, complicates a future track.
A high pressure ridge is now steering the storm to the west-northwest. A trough is expected to carve a break in the ridge and allow the storm to slide to the north. However, forecasters said a weaker storm may not be influenced as greatly by the ridge.
It's too soon to tell what impacts the storm will have, but early models suggest the storm will turn to the north and remain offshore.
At 11 a.m., the storm was located about 430 miles south-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, moving west-northwest at 10 mph.
Sustained winds early Friday were 35 mph.
Another tropical wave located about 1,200 miles east-southeast of the Lesser Antilles may pose a bigger threat. The wave is expected to become a depression early next week as it moves to the west at about 15 mph.
Forecasters also warned that Tropical Storm Jose could generate rough surf and dangerous rip currents off the Carolinas and up to New England over the next few days.
