Hurricane Maria is now a major Category 3 hurricane on track to slam the Irma-ravaged Caribbean

Hurricane Maria National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Maria is rapidly intensifying in the Caribbean and is likely to hit some of the same areas recently devastated by Hurricane Irma.

As of 11 a.m. ET, the National Hurricane Center declared Maria a major hurricane, a term that refers to storms Category 3 or above. Maria's sustained wind speed of 120 mph pushed it to Category 3 level on Monday morning.

The hurricane is approaching the Leeward Islands, with a track that threatens to bring its center quite close to St. Lucia, Martinique, and Dominica. The US island of Puerto Rico appears to be directly in Maria's path with the Virgin Islands also projected to be near the storm's eye.

Air Force "hurricane hunter" flights report that there's considerable lightning in the storm system's center and that Maria is likely to become at least a powerful Category 4 storm.

It's still too soon to say whether Florida or other parts of the continental US will be in the storm's path after it crosses the Caribbean.

I can't possibly stress this enough: If you have friends or family in Puerto Rico, please get in touch.
Maria will be much worse than Irma. https://t.co/lTEUFh2E0j
— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) September 18, 2017

Hurricane warnings are currently in effect for the US and British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat. Those islands are likely to see hurricane conditions within the next 36 hours, since the center of Maria is expected to approach the Leeward Islands late today. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Saba and St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.

Hurricane watches — meaning hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours — are in effect for Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Martin, St. Barts, and Anguilla.

Hurricane Maria National Hurricane Center

Maria is the seventh hurricane of an unusually active Atlantic hurricane season, making this only the ninth year on record with seven hurricanes by September 17. We've had 13 named storms so far, while the average by September 18 is only 7.6. This season is already significantly ahead of the average measures for major hurricane days and cyclone energy (a measure of storm strength, duration, and frequency). As a major hurricane, Maria will push those measures even further ahead.

On September 15, Colorado State University's Tropical Meteorology Project issued a two-week forecast predicting above-normal cyclone activity for the Atlantic Basin.

Currently, Hurricane Jose is moving up the East Coast, where it's likely to stay offshore but to bring tropical storm conditions including winds, rainfall, and dangerous surf to coastal and mid-Atlantic areas.

Preparations for Maria have begun in Puerto Rico, where many are still recovering from Hurricane Irma. The Island avoided a direct hit from that storm, but Irma's powerful storm surge and winds still cut power for many residents.

Read again Hurricane Maria is now a major Category 3 hurricane on track to slam the Irma-ravaged Caribbean : http://ift.tt/2jFw5jY

Let's block ads! (Why?)