SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico >> Hurricane Lee whirled through open waters on Thursday as forecasters warned it could become the first Category 5 storm of the Atlantic season.

Lee was not expected to make landfall while on a projected path that will take it near the northeast Caribbean, although forecasters said tropical storm conditions are possible on some islands. Meteorologists said it was too early to provide details on potential rainfall and wind gusts.

The Category 4 hurricane was located about 780 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. It had winds of up to 130 miles per hour and was moving west-northwest at 15 mph.

The storm was expected to grow even more powerful late Thursday and remain a major hurricane into next week.

“Lee continues to strengthen at an exceptional rate,” the National Hurricane Center said.

— The Associated Press