Will Hurricane Lee Hit NYC? Here's What To Know

NEW YORK CITY — The uncertain path of Hurricane Lee could bring it — and destruction — to New York City's doorstep, experts warned.

The massive hurricane gathered strength as it barreled over the Atlantic Ocean, and looked likely to move north of Puerto Rico and through the northeast Caribbean over the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Lee is the 12th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and so far is the most powerful, with 155 mph sustained winds.

"Lee is a dangerous category 5 hurricane, and further strengthening is possible," the Center warned Friday.

But the major hurricane's future path into next week remained frustratingly unclear.

Forecast models first reported by CBS New York initially showed Lee making landfall in the Mid-Atlantic about Sept. 16 and then drifting over the coast toward New York.

Later projections hinted that Lee could stay over the sea just off the mainland, bringing heavy rain and wind to eastern Long Island, CBS reported.

The National Hurricane Center cautioned Friday that it was too soon to know what Lee's level of impact, if any, would be to the East Coast, Atlantic Canada or Bermuda, especially since the storm is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic.

The note of caution came with a caveat: "Regardless, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the U.S. East Coast beginning Sunday."