The hurricane made its closest approach to St. Croix around 05: 00 UTC on September 20, passing within 20 mi (30 km) of the island; the storm 's outer eyewall lashed the island while the more violent inner eye remained offshore. Hours later, around 08: 00 UTC, the outer eyewall struck Vieques, an island off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico. By this time, the outer eye became dominant as the inner one decayed, and the eyewall replacement cycle caused Maria to weaken to Category 4 strength. Maria made landfall just south of Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, around 10: 15 UTC with sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km / h), making it the strongest to hit the island since the 1928 San Felipe Segundo hurricane. Maria maintained a general west - northwest course across Puerto Rico, emerging over the Atlantic Ocean shortly before 18: 00 UTC. Interaction with the mountainous terrain resulted in substantial weakening; sustained winds fell to 110 mph (175 km / h) and the central pressure rose to 957 mbars (hPa; 28.26 inHg). With favorable environmental conditions, Maria steadily reorganized as it moved away from Puerto Rico. A large eye, 45 mi (75 km) wide, developed with deep convection blossoming around it. Early on September 21, the system regained Category 3 intensity.
where did the hurricane maria hit puerto rico
just south of Yabucoa