Why is it having such a hard time clearing out the eye?
Outflow is ridiculous and it's still over sufficiently warm water.
Shear appears low and don't see a lot of dry air intrusion.
12z GFS has a major hurricane one week from today Southeast of Bermuda and heading West with ridging overhead. It needs to miss the weakness leftover behind Margot if it has a chance of making it West of Bermuda.
The outflow has really improved the last few hours and the eye appears to be clearing out some. The HAFS is predicting a more or less steady state system until Saturday morning when it starts to feel the cooler SST.
12z HWRF is similar to the globals with a likely landfall in Eastern Maine or Nova Scotia imminent. Tropical storm force winds make it to the Cape by Saturday afternoon.
Fairly strong consensus building for a landfall in down East Maine or Nova Scotia. Not really too concerned about New England. That area is used to seeing strong winds during winter storms.
12z HAFS brings Lee back up to Cat 5 intensity tomorrow, hitting ~155kts (175 MPH) at 03z Sunday before an ERC on Sunday/Monday which dramatically expands the wind field.
Current :
vs