Tracking the Tropics: Katia Strengthens to Cat. 4, Lee's Remnants Dump Rain on Eastern US

Courtesy Wunderground.com

As of 11PM EST, Hurricane Katia has top winds of 135mph, making Katia a category four storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. She has the potential to strengthen even a little further over the next day. The good news is that it looks like Katia will swing out to sea and only provide the East coast of the United States with large waves and rip currents Thursday into Friday. That being said, East coast waters will be of the deadly and extremely dangerous variety. Those rip currents could be deadly and waves could be increased by as much as 8 to 15 feet.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Lee have spread across the Southeast US Mainland and are heading NNE. This leftover moisture will continue to feed North over the next few days, providing much of the Eastern edge of the United States with plenty of rainfall through Wednesday.

Behind Katia in the open waters of the Atlantic is our next tropical wave to watch. This area of low pressure could become 'Maria' over the next two days.

The 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season continues to be an active one, but the good news now again is that Katia will likely not impact the East coast with anything other than waves and rip currents.

The Eastern Pacific remains quiet.

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