A new hurricane off the Atlantic coast has the potential to turn into a Category Five hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Wind speeds could reach 160 mph, according to Phil Klotzbach, a meteorologist at Colorado State University.

Hurricane Lee is forecast to become a major hurricane later today, reaching its peak intensity as it moves toward the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend.

According to the NHC, it’s too soon to say how Lee might impact the Atlantic seaboard next week. But even if it doesn’t make landfall, dangerous riptides and potential storm surges could result.

Hurricane Ian was the last Category 5 hurricane to impact the eastern U.S. in 2022.

Since 2016, Klotzbach said the Atlantic has had 7 Category 5 hurricanes: Matthew (2016), Irma (2017), Maria (2017), Michael (2018), Dorian (2019), Lorenzo (2019) and Ian.