Here we go again...Hurricane Maria

looks like by tomorrow we will have Maria making her way toward the islands of Dominique, Guadaloupe, St Kitts, St Thomas, St Johns, St Croix, Antigua and Puetro Rico by Tues/Wed. Maria is expected to be a high cat 2 low cat 3 in this area. What makes her more dangerous is when she hits these islands she will be heading in full force vs slowing down as she makes landfall over some of these islands. Impacts on the coastal US is still to be determined but from what I understand will depend on the speed of Jose. The slower Jose moves the better for the US but if Jose moves out fast it could be bad for US. Hoping for the best...

looks like by tomorrow we will have Maria making her way toward the islands of Dominique, Guadaloupe, St Kitts, St Thomas, St Johns, St Croix, Antigua and Puetro Rico by Tues/Wed. Maria is expected to be a high cat 2 low cat 3 in this area. What makes her more dangerous is when she hits these islands she will be heading in full force vs slowing down as she makes landfall over some of these islands. Impacts on the coastal US is still to be determined but from what I understand will depend on the speed of Jose. The slower Jose moves the better for the US but if Jose moves out fast it could be bad for US. Hoping for the best...

Maria is not a hurricane. At least, not yet. She's still "just" a tropical storm.

Maria is not a hurricane. At least, not yet. She's still "just" a tropical storm.

Yep, that's why I said tomorrow...no need naming her a TS when she will be a cane.

It's that time of the year.

Forecasters predicted a higher number of hurricanes this year and more severe due to warmer Atlantic waters. May be rough season for cruisers and cruise operators.

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My thoughts and prayers are for the Caribbean. Maybe Maria will turn more east before she hits the islands.

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Maria is now officially Hurricane Maria!

And heading for St Maarten!!

Karen

I feel so bad for places like St Thomas and St John's which look to be in the path again.

Seems St. Croix as well ....

https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/hurricane-maria-lesser-antilles-northeast-caribbean-islands

Wow, cat 4 hitting Puerto Rico. Hopefully St Thomas and St John can be spared the worse if it stay safe more southwest. Wish them all the best.

Looking further into the future, the current forecast track has it right near or over Grand Turk in a few days. They can't catch a break here ether. :(

Only good news right now is that hurricane-force winds only extend 15 miles out from the center. Hope she stays small.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?cone#contents

We're taking 2 cruises next summer (1 graduation and 1 anniversary) and i'm afraid to book Eastern which is what we wanted this time as these places are getting decimated by these darn hurricanes!:(:eek:

Looking further into the future, the current forecast track has it right near or over Grand Turk in a few days. They can't catch a break here ether. :(

 

Only good news right now is that hurricane-force winds only extend 15 miles out from the center. Hope she stays small.

 

 

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?cone#contents

8pm update will have Maria as cat 5 160 mph knocking on the door of Dominica headed full steam ahead and intensifying. This is St Maarten all over again. Best of luck to the people of Dominica.

This looks ominous, Hurricane Jose looks like it's going to brush the Eastern Coast of the US, Maria is heading straight towards Puerto Rico and is now a Cat 5 hurricane, Hurricane Lee is developing and if you look completely to the right of Lee, it looks like another storm is developing.

ZCZC MIATCPAT5 ALL

TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM

BULLETIN

Hurricane Maria Intermediate Advisory Number 9A

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL152017

200 PM AST Mon Sep 18 2017

...MARIA CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN...

...THE EYE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE LEEWARD ISLANDS LATE THIS

AFTERNOON OR THIS EVENING...

SUMMARY OF 200 PM AST...1800 UTC...INFORMATION

----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...14.9N 60.4W

ABOUT 45 MI...70 KM ENE OF MARTINIQUE

ABOUT 70 MI...115 KM ESE OF DOMINICA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...125 MPH...200 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...956 MB...28.23 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Government of Barbados has discontinued the Tropical Storm

Watch for Barbados.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* Guadeloupe

* Dominica

* St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat

* Martinique

* St. Lucia

* U.S. Virgin Islands

* British Virgin Islands

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Antigua and Barbuda

* Saba and St. Eustatius

* St. Maarten

* Anguilla

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra

* Saba and St. Eustatius

* St. Maarten

* St. Martin and St. Barthelemy

* Anguilla

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* St. Vincent and the Grenadines

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected

somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and

property should be rushed to completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are

expected somewhere within the warning area.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible

within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours

before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force

winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or

dangerous.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are

possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests elsewhere in the Lesser Antilles and the Dominican

Republic should monitor the progress of this system. Hurricane

Warnings will likely be issued for Puerto Rico and the nearby

islands this afternoon.

For storm information specific to your area in the United

States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please

monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service

forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside

the United States, please monitor products issued by your national

meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

------------------------------

At 200 PM AST (1800 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Maria was located

by the French radar on Martinique near latitude 14.9 North,

longitude 60.4 West. Maria is moving toward the west-northwest near

10 mph (17 km/h), and this motion with some 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, over the extreme northeastern Caribbean Sea Tuesday and

Tuesday night, and approach Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on

Wednesday.

Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft

indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 125 mph

(200 km/h) with higher gusts. Maria is a category 3 hurricane on

the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional rapid

strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Maria is

expected to be a dangerous major hurricane as it moves through the

Leeward Islands and the northeastern Caribbean Sea.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from

the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125

miles (205 km).

The minimum central pressure estimated from the Hurricane Hunter

aircraft data is 956 mb (28.23 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

----------------------

WIND: Hurricane conditions are first expected within portions of

the Leeward Islands by late today, with tropical storm conditions

beginning shortly. Hurricane conditions should spread through the

remainder of the hurricane warning area tonight through Tuesday

night. Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch

area Tuesday through Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions

possible later today or tonight. Tropical storm conditions are

possible in the tropical storm watch area through tonight.

STORM SURGE: A dangerous storm surge accompanied by large and

destructive waves will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 9 feet

above normal tide levels in the hurricane warning area near where

the center of Maria moves across the Leeward Islands and the

British Virgin Islands.

The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause

normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters

moving inland from the shoreline. The water is expected to reach

the following heights above ground if the peak surge occurs at the

time of high tide...

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands...6 to 9 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to

the north and east of the landfall location, where the surge will be

accompanied by large and destructive waves. Surge-related

flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal

cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information

specific to your area, please see products issued by your local

National Weather Service forecast office.

RAINFALL: Maria is expected to produce total rain accumulations of

6 to 12 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches across the

central and southern Leeward Islands, and the U.S. and British

Virgin Islands through Wednesday night. Rainfall amounts of 6 to 12

inches with isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches are expected

across Puerto Rico. Maria is also expected to produce total rain

accumulations of 2 to 4 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 8

inches over the remaining northern Leeward Islands from Barbuda to

Anguilla, eastern portions of the Dominican Republic, as well as the

Windward Islands and Barbados. Rainfall on all of these islands

could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

SURF: Swells generated by Maria are affecting the Lesser Antilles.

These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip

current conditions. Please consult products from your local

weather office.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurrica...asic-supplies/

CBS/AP September 18, 2017, 4:42 PM

Puerto Rico imposes rationing as Hurricane Maria approaches

Last Updated Sep 18, 2017 5:22 PM EDT

MIAMI -- Puerto Rico has imposed a rationing of basic supplies including water and baby formula as Hurricane Maria approaches as a Category 5 storm.

Officials said Monday that the rationing is necessary to ensure everyone has access to basic items such as batteries, milk, canned foods, flashlights and other supplies. It does not apply to gasoline or other fuels.

Shelves at many stores were emptying out quickly as people rushed to finalize hurricane preparations. Many posted desperate pleas on social media for help in finding certain items.

Some stores were already imposing their own rationing measures and stressed that more merchandise was scheduled to arrive on Monday to replenish shelves, officials said.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Maria -- on a path that would take it near many of the islands already wrecked by Hurricane Irma and then on toward Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic -- is an "extremely dangerous" storm with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. It was centered about 15 miles east-southeast of Dominica -- or 40 miles east of Martinique -- and heading west-northwest at 9 mph late Monday afternoon.

Hurricane warnings were posted for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Martinique and St. Lucia. A tropical storm warning was issued for Antigua and Barbuda, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten and Anguilla.

On Wednesday, Maria is expected to be near or over Puerto Rico, which was spared the full brunt of Hurricane Irma, although much of the island had its power knocked out. Nearly 70,000 people remain without power, and Gov. Ricardo Rossello on Monday warned of another widespread outage.

Forecasters said the storm would dump up to 18 inches of rain across Puerto Rico and whip the U.S. territory with heavy winds for 12 to 24 hours.

Officials said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was ready to bring drinking water and help restore power in Puerto Rico immediately after the storm.

Rossello said officials had prepared about 450 shelters with a capacity for nearly 68,000 people -- or even 125,000 in an emergency. Schools were cancelled for Monday and government employees would work only a half day.

-------------------------------

Anyone leaving out of Puerto Rico, I hope you have travel insurance!

11pm report:

...EYE OF CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE MARIA MOVING OVER DOMINICA... SUMMARY OF 1100 PM AST...0300 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...15.5N 61.4W ABOUT 0 MI...0 KM NW OF DOMINICA ABOUT 270 MI...435 KM SE OF ST. CROIX MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...160 MPH...260 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...924 MB...27.29 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: None SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Guadeloupe * Dominica * St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat * U.S. Virgin Islands * British Virgin Islands * Puerto Rico, Culebra, and Vieques A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Antigua and Barbuda * Saba and St. Eustatius * St. Maarten * Anguilla * St. Lucia * Martinique A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Saba and St. Eustatius * St. Maarten * St. Martin and St. Barthelemy * Anguilla * Isla Saona to Puerto Plata A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * St. Vincent and the Grenadines * West of Puerto Plata to the northern Dominican Republic-Haiti border A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours. Interests elsewhere in Hispaniola, the southeastern Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands should monitor the progress of Maria. Additional watches and warnings may be required on Tuesday. For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ At 1100 PM AST (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Maria was located near latitude 15.5 North, longitude 61.4 West. Maria is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through Wednesday. On the forecast track, the eye of Maria will move over the northeastern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday and approach the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Tuesday night and Wednesday. Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 160 mph (260 km/h) with higher gusts. Maria is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Maria is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane while it approaches the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 km). Ham radio reports indicate significant damage to structures has occurred in Dominica. The minimum central pressure estimated from reconnaissance data is 924 mb (27.29 inches).

This is so sad and devasting to many people on these islands, they can't seem to get a break.

Monster storm slams into Dominica as it carves a path of destruction toward the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and other Caribbean islands still recovering from Hurricane Irma.

(ANTIMEDIA) — Hurricane Maria made landfall Monday night around 9:15 p.m. local time on the small Caribbean island of Dominica as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds over 160 mph. The storm grew from a Category 1 to Category 5 hurricane in only 20 hours, which may be the fastest strengthening on record.

More at link - people in trouble, photos of hurricane. She's a real monster! More to come....

http://theantimedia.org/dominica-direct-hit-category-5-hurricane-maria/

https://www.facebook.com/SupportRoos...99579703517217

Roosevelt Skerrit

7 hrs ·

Initial reports are of widespread devastation. So far we have lost all what money can buy and replace. My greatest fear for the morning is that we will wake to news of serious physical injury and possible deaths as a result of likely landslides triggered by persistent rains.

So, far the winds have swept away the roofs of almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with. The roof to my own official residence was among the first to go and this apparently triggered an avalanche of torn away roofs in the city and the countryside.

Come tomorrow morning we will hit the road, as soon as the all clear is given, in search of the injured and those trapped in the rubble.

I am honestly not preoccupied with physical damage at this time, because it is devastating...indeed, mind boggling. My focus now is in rescuing the trapped and securing medical assistance for the injured.

We will need help, my friend, we will need help of all kinds.

It is too early to speak of the condition of the air and seaports, but I suspect both will be inoperable for a few days. That is why I am eager now to solicit the support of friendly nations and organisations with helicopter services, for I personally am eager to get up and get around the country to see and determine what's needed.

Puerto Rico is getting hammered. 100% of the island is without power. Mayor says power won't be restored for at least 4-6 months. Doubtful any cruise ships will be visiting PR soon. Half of San Juan is flooded. My SIL niece is a doctor in PR. No word how they are fairing. Her husband is in the tourist business. Sad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoOxu8rbh1c