As if the Caribbean islands haven’t had enough wind and rain from Hurricane Irma, there’s a new storm about to batter the region.
Dubbed Hurricane Maria, the storm formed on 16 September and is currently a category 2 hurricane. Moving NNW and churning just east of the Leeward Islands, she’s expected to strengthen into a category 4 storm before directly striking Puerto Rico.
No ad to show here.
At present, Maria is one of five named cyclones currently churning in the Eastern Pacific and Atlantic.
Hurricane Jose continues to survive just East of the United States’ eastern coastline. Tropical Depression Lee is set to fizzle out during the day, while Tropical Storm Norma and Hurricane Otis are currently occupying the eastern Pacific.
NWS San Juan, located in Puerto Rico’s capital, has declared a hurricane watch for the island.
5 AM: NHC…Maria headed to the Leeward Islands…Expected to become a major hurricane by tonight or early Tuesday… #prwx #usviwx pic.twitter.com/C6JARrYtfC
— NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) September 18, 2017
Other islands across the Caribbean are also on alert, although all is quiet for now in Dominica.
#Hurricans #Maria NW tip of #Dominica – 7:00 AM Photos showing present weather and sea conditions as Maria eye 12 hours SE of us. pic.twitter.com/f0KfoLt7Y6
— Alex Ocana (@DominicaCanaPt) September 18, 2017
Antigua’s Met Service tweeted that Maria is “one the verge of doing great harm”.
The island is one of many that was battered earlier this month by Hurricane Irma.
#Maria – on the verge of doing great harm! pic.twitter.com/gb9iopobDW
— Antigua Met Service (@anumetservice) September 18, 2017
This particular tweet shows the similarities in Irma and Maria’s paths.
IRMA VS. MARIA
Hurricane #Maria will move near the same areas that were hit hard by #Irma. Maria slightly south. pic.twitter.com/11IuXosjzn— Alan Auglis (@alanauglis) September 18, 2017
Hurricane Maria and “Amber Alert” are currently trending on Twitter in Puerto Rico.
Feature image: NASA Hurricane Web Page/GOES-16 via Facebook
