9/20/2017 Hurricane Maria - Wikipedia

Hurricane Maria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hurricane Maria is an extremely powerful tropical cyclone

which recently made landfall on Dominica, and is currently Hurricane Maria 5
threatening the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Current storm status
Dominican Republic. The thirteenth named storm, seventh Category 5 hurricane (1-min mean)
hurricane, fourth major hurricane, and second Category 5
hurricane of the unusually active 2017 Atlantic hurricane
season, Maria formed on September 16 out of a tropical wave
that was monitored by the National Hurricane Center beginning
on September 14. It is the third major hurricane in a row to
threaten the Leeward Islands with a direct strike or major
impacts within two weeks, after Hurricane Irma caused
catastrophic damage there and Jose, then a Category 4 Satellite image
hurricane, passed dangerously close just days after. At 23:30 Forecast map

UTC on September 18, Maria strengthened to a Category 5 As of: 2:15 p.m AST (18:15 UTC)
hurricane, therefore making the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season September 19
the first since 2007 to feature two Category 5 hurricanes, and
one of only six Atlantic hurricane seasons to feature two or Location: 16.6N 63.6W
more Category 5 hurricanes, as well as only the second (after About 110 mi (175 km) SE of Saint
2007) to feature two hurricanes making landfall at Category 5 Croix
intensity. About 140 mi (225 km) W of
Guadeloupe
Sustained 145 kn (165 mph; 265 km/h) (1-min
Contents winds: mean)
gusting to 175 kn (200 mph; 320
1 Meteorological history km/h)
1.1 Current storm information
1.2 Watches and warnings Pressure: 920 mbar (hPa; 27.17 inHg)
2 Preparations Movement: WNW at 9 kn (10 mph; 17 km/h)
3 Impact
3.1 Dominica See more detailed information.
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

Meteorological history
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring two tropical waves on September 13.[1] The easternmost
one quickly spun up into what would become Tropical Storm Lee, while the western one continued moving
generally to the west. With generally favorable conditions in the disturbance's path, development into a tropical
cyclone seemed likely.[2] The disturbance became better organized throughout the two days,[3] and by 15:00 UTC
on September 16, the rate of organization was enough to classify the system as a potential tropical cyclone.[4] As
the disturbance continued to grow increasingly well-defined throughout the course of the day, it was later upgraded
to a moderate-range tropical storm based on satellite estimates at 21:00 UTC that day, receiving the name
Maria.[5] A central dense overcast (CDO) developed atop the center of circulation, which enabled Maria to become
further organized throughout the early morning hours of September 17.[6] Later that day, it was upgraded to a

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hurricane, based on reports from Hurricane Hunters that were investigating

Map plotting the track and intensity of
the storm according to the Saffir
Simpson scale
the storm.[7][8][9] Shortly thereafter, Maria explosively intensified, with
winds doubling from 80 mph (130 km/h) to 160 mph (260 km/h) in a 24-
hour period, and the pressure decreasing from 982 mbar (hPa; 29.00 inHg)
to 925 mbar (hPa; 28.23 inHg).[10] About an hour later, Maria made
landfall on Dominica, becoming the first hurricane on record to make
landfall on the island at Category 5 intensity.[11] Land interaction caused
Maria to slightly weaken to a high-end Category 4 hurricane,[12] but Maria
regained Category 5 status shortly after its eyewall moved over
Dominica.[13]

Current storm information

As of 2:15 p.m AST (18:15 UTC) September 19, Hurricane Maria was located near 16.6N 63.6W, about
110 miles (175 km) southeast of Saint Croix, and about 140 miles (225 km) west of Guadeloupe. Maximum
sustained winds are 145 knots (165 mph; 265 km/h), a Category 5 on the SaffirSimpson scale, with gusts to
175 knots (200 mph; 320 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 920 millibars (hPa; 27.17 inHg). The system
is moving west-northwest at 9 knots (10 mph; 17 km/h). Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles
(55 km) from the center of Maria, and tropical storm-force winds extended outward up to 140 miles (220 km) from
the center.

For latest official information, see:

The NHC's latest public advisory on Hurricane Maria (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT5+s

html/)
The NHC's latest forecast advisory on Hurricane Maria (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT5
+shtml/)
The NHC's latest forecast discussion on Hurricane Maria (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT
5+shtml/)

Watches and warnings

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British Overseas Territories

British Virgin Islands
Montserrat
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Hurricane Warning Cabo Engao to Puerto Plata
Hurricane conditions France
expected within 36 hours. Guadeloupe
Martinique
Saint Kitts and Nevis
United States
United States Virgin Islands
Puerto Rico, including Culebra and Vieques

British Overseas Territories

Anguilla
Dominican Republic
Isla Saona to Cabo Engao
Hurricane Watch France
Hurricane conditions Saint Martin
possible within 48 hours. Saint Barthlemy
Netherlands
Saba
Sint Eustatius
Sint Maarten

Antigua and Barbuda

British Overseas Territories
Anguilla
Dominican Republic
West of Puerto Plata to the northern border of the Dominican Republic
Tropical Storm Warning and Haiti
Tropical storm conditions West of Cabo Engao to Punta Palenque
expected within 36 hours. France
Guadeloupe
Netherlands
Saba
Sint Eustatius
Sint Maarten

Preparations
Upon the initiation of the National Hurricane Center (NHC)'s first advisories for the system that would become
Tropical Storm Maria on the morning of September 16, the government of France issued tropical storm watches for
the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, while St. Lucia issued a tropical storm watch for its citizens, and the
government of Barbados issued a similar watch for Dominica.[14] Barbados would later that day declare a tropical
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storm watch for its citizens and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.[15] The government of Antigua and Barbuda
issued Hurricane watches for the islands of Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat by the time of the
NHC's second advisory which declared Maria a tropical storm.[16][17] Evacuation orders were issued in Puerto
Rico in advance of Maria, and officials announced that 450 shelters would be opened beginning during the
afternoon of September 18.[18]

Impact
Dominica

Striking Dominica as a Category 5 hurricane, Maria caused severe damage. Roofs were blown off houses,
including that of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit who required rescue.[19] Most of the island was left without
cellular, radio, or internet service. Skerrit called the devastation "mind boggling" and indicated immediate priority
was to rescue survivors rather than assess damage.[20]

See also
List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes
1928 San Felipe Segundo hurricane The strongest and most destructive cyclone to affect Puerto Rico
in modern times, the only recorded Category 5 hurricane to make landfall on the island
Hurricane David
Hurricane Irma
1932 San Ciprian hurricane the last major hurricane to strike Puerto Rico
Hurricane Jose (2017)
Hurricane Luis
Hurricane Hortense
Hurricane Marilyn
Tropical cyclone#Climate change
Tropical Storm Erika devastated the island of Dominica with severe flooding

References
1. Brennan, Michael (September 13, 2017). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook" (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/a
rchive/xgtwo/gtwo_archive.php?current_issuance=201709140241&basin=atl&fdays=5). National Hurricane
Center. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
2. Blake, Eric (September 14, 2017). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook" (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/
xgtwo/gtwo_archive.php?current_issuance=201709142033&basin=atl&fdays=5). National Hurricane
Center. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
3. Blake, Eric (September 15, 2017). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook" (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/
xgtwo/gtwo_archive.php?current_issuance=201709152035&basin=atl&fdays=5). National Hurricane
Center. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
4. Cangialosi, John (September 16, 2017). "Potential Tropical Cyclone Fifteen Discussion Number 1" (http://w
ww.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.001.shtml?). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved
September 17, 2017.
5. Cangialosi, John (September 16, 2017). "Tropical Storm Maria Discussion Number 2" (http://www.nhc.noaa.
gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.002.shtml?). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 17,
2017.
6. Pasch, Richard (September 17, 2017). "Tropical Storm Maria Discussion Number 4" (http://www.nhc.noaa.g
ov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.004.shtml?). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 17,
2017.

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7. Cangialosi, John (September 17, 2017). "Hurricane Maria Discussion Number 6" (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.005.shtml?). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
8. Stanglin, Doug (September 16, 2017). "Hurricane Jose ambles off U.S. coast as new Tropical Storm Maria
tracks Irma's early path" (https://web.archive.org/web/20170916223638/https://www.usatoday.com/story/ne
ws/2017/09/16/hurricane-season-roars-tropical-storm-lee-forms-jose-threatens-east-coast/673482001/). USA
Today. Gannett Company. Archived from the original (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/16/hur
ricane-season-roars-tropical-storm-lee-forms-jose-threatens-east-coast/673482001/) on September 16, 2017.
Retrieved September 16, 2017.
9. Lam, Linda; Belles, Jonathan (September 16, 2017). "Tropical Storm Maria Expected to Rapidly Intensify
On Approach to the Lesser Antilles; Hurricane Watches Issued" (https://web.archive.org/web/201709162238
58/https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/tropical-storm-hurricane-maria-lesser-antilles). The Weather
Channel. Landmark Media Enterprises. Archived from the original (https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/ne
ws/tropical-storm-hurricane-maria-lesser-antilles) on September 16, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
10. "Hurricane MARIA" (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.011.shtml?).
www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
11. Masters, Date (September 18, 2017). "Category 5 Hurricane Maria Hits Dominica" (https://www.wundergrou
nd.com/cat6/category-5-hurricane-maria-hits-dominica). Weather Underground. Retrieved September 18,
2017.
12. Pasch, Richard (September 19, 2017). "Hurricane Maria Discussion Number 13" (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/a
rchive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.013.shtml?). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
13. Pasch, Richard (September 19, 2017). "Hurricane Maria Tropical Cyclone Update" (http://www.nhc.noaa.go
v/archive/2017/al15/al152017.update.09190905.shtml?). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved
September 19, 2017.
14. Cangialosi, John (September 16, 2017). "Potential Tropical Cyclone Fifteen Advisory Number 1" (https://we
b.archive.org/web/20170916215721/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public.001.shtml)
. National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather
Service. Archived from the original (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public.001.shtm
l?) on September 16, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
15. Cangialosi, John (September 16, 2017). "Tropical Depression Fifteen Intermediate Advisory Number 1A" (ht
tps://web.archive.org/web/20170916220110/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public_a.
001.shtml). National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National
Weather Service. Archived from the original (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public_
a.001.shtml) on September 16, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
16. Cangialosi, John (September 16, 2017). "Tropical Storm Maria Advisory Number 2" (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20170916220327/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public.002.shtml). National
Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service.
Archived from the original (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public.002.shtml) on
September 16, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
17. Porter, Greg (September 16, 2017). "Hurricane Jose lurks off the East Coast, Tropical Storm Maria threatens
the Caribbean" (https://web.archive.org/web/20170917000012/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capita
l-weather-gang/wp/2017/09/16/hurricane-jose-lurks-off-the-east-coast-and-the-caribbean-faces-a-new-threat-
as-tropics-remain-active/?utm_term=.eca462e843ec). The Washington Post. WP Company LLC. Archived
from the original (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/09/16/hurricane-jos
e-lurks-off-the-east-coast-and-the-caribbean-faces-a-new-threat-as-tropics-remain-active/?utm_term=.e470cf
551ff7) on September 16, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
18. Shapiro, Emily; Hoyos, Joshua; Golembo, Max; Allen, Karma (September 18, 2017). "Hurricane Maria
upgraded to 'extremely dangerous' Category 4, islands including Puerto Rico brace for impact". ABC News.
19. Paul, Pritha (September 19, 2017). "Hurricane Maria, Now Category 5, Blows Away Roof Of Dominica
PM's House" (http://www.ibtimes.com/hurricane-maria-now-category-5-blows-away-roof-dominica-pms-ho
use-2591299). International Business Times. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
20. Austin Ramzy (September 19, 2017). "Hurricane Maria Does Mind Boggling Damage to Dominica, Leader
Says" (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/world/americas/hurricane-maria-caribbean.html). New York
Times. Retrieved September 19, 2017.

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External links
The National Hurricane Center (NHC)'s advisory archive on Tropical Storm Maria (http://www.nhc.noaa.go
v/archive/2017/MARIA.shtml?)
Track and wind speed history (https://weather.com/storms/hurricane-central/AL152017) from The Weather
Channel

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This page was last edited on 19 September 2017, at 19:02.

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