Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Budding Hurricane Maria poses a significant threat to Irma-devastated areas in the northern Caribbean early this week.
Tropical Storm Maria, located 450 miles east-southeast of the Lesser Antilles, continues to strengthen as it tracks west-northwestward. People in the Lesser Antilles should be preparing for yet another impactful tropical system.
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello tweeted that the government is working to finalize plans for Maria.
At a Saturday press conference, U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Kenneth Mapp warned residents they should be prepared for Maria, the next storm to hit the islands after Irma. Conditions are conducive for the storm to ramp up into a Category 2 hurricane prior to reaching the Lesser Antilles on Monday night and Tuesday. This is the third tropical system to impact the area in two weeks, following major hurricanes Irma and Jose during the first week of September.
While it is unlikely that the storm will reach Irma’s intense strength by the time it approaches, the brisk pace of the storm means there is little time for preparations to be completed on the islands.
Seas will build along the east-facing beaches of the Leeward Islands as the strengthening storm approaches through Monday. Torrential rain and damaging winds will then increase on Monday night and into Tuesday.
Some of the islands that were largely spared from Irma’s wrath may take a direct hit from the storm, including Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica and Martinique.
Winds have crept up to 75 mph now making our bad girl an official hurricane. Most of the current models show her slamming into Puerto Rico and then heading into the Atlantic. But, it's early days yet and at least one current news report says that a strong blocking high is expected later in the week that could direct her right into Florida.
5am NHC Update: "Significant Strengthening" coming up but she's tiny for now. Hurricane winds only 15 miles out from center..
Quote:
BULLETIN
Hurricane Maria Advisory Number 8
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL152017
500 AM AST Mon Sep 18 2017
...MARIA HEADED FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS... ...EXPECTED TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BY TONIGHT OR EARLY TUESDAY...
SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...14.6N 59.5W
ABOUT 100 MI...160 KM E OF MARTINIQUE
ABOUT 130 MI...215 KM ESE OF DOMINICA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...90 MPH...150 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...977 MB...28.85 INCHES
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Maria was located
near latitude 14.6 North, longitude 59.5 West. Maria is moving
toward the west-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this motion
with a decrease in forward speed is expected through Tuesday night.
On the forecast track, the center of Maria will move across the
Leeward Islands late today and tonight and then over the
extreme northeastern Caribbean Sea Tuesday and Tuesday night.
Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph (150 km/h) with higher
gusts. Significant strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Maria is expected to become a dangerous major hurricane before it moves through the Leeward Islands.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles
(165 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 977 mb (28.85 inches).
NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 800 AM AST.
Next complete advisory at 1100 AM AST
8aEST 18Sept2017: Winds 110mph, moving WNW 12mph, pressure 967mb. Ya that is a VERY tiny core/storm. Will be Cat3 shortly. Approaching Dominica. Hurricane force winds possible in parts of the Leeward islands later today, Tropical storm force late this morning. Storm surge of 5-7ft near the center of storm expected. Rainfall of 6-12inches with isolated 20inches across portions of Leeward Islands to Puerto Rico.
Maria is sssooooo tiny...going to make it easy to obtain Cat4+ shortly if not already.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
