HURRICANE MARIA IS TAKING CENTER STAGE AS A STRONG CATEGORY 4 STORM

Winchester, VA – Hurricane Maria strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane yesterday and last night made landfall on the island of Dominica in the Caribbean. Many of the islands that were impacted by Hurricane Irma are going to be affected by Hurricane Maria as well.  As of now here are the latest stats on the hurricane:

Maria is–

Located: 16.0N 62.3W

165mi WSW of Guadeloupe

205mi SE of St. Croix

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS: 155mph

Moving: WNW @9mph

Min. Cent. Pressure: 934mb

Hurricane Warnings are in effect for: Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, THE U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Culebra, and Vieques.

Maria, which is now a strong Category 4 hurricane, is expected to approach Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Tuesday night into Wednesday with a storm surge of 6 to 9 feet. In those areas of the Leeward Islands and the British Virgin Islands where the eye of the storm will pass, a storm surge of 7-11 feet is expected. The storm is will bring anywhere from 12-18 inches of rain to Puerto Rico with isolated areas receiving 25 inches. The Virgin Islands are predicted to receive 10-15 inches of rain with isolated areas receiving 20 inches. Life-threatening flash floods and mudslides remain within the realm of possibility. The Northern Leeward Islands, which were virtually decimated from Hurricane Irma, are expected to receive heavy rains and at least tropical storm force winds. Only four other Category 4 hurricanes in history have tracked within 75 miles of Puerto Rico, and in only three other hurricane seasons have 2 hurricanes tracked within 75 miles of the Virgin Islands. This is the first time that both hurricanes are Category 3 or above. It’s also the first time in 10 years that we have had two category 5 hurricanes within the same season, not to mention within two weeks of each other.  Whether Hurricane Maria will strike the United States is unpredictable right now, but if it does, it will not be until next week.