Just after Hurricane Irma battered the Caribbean, Hurricane Maria is gaining strength and on it's way. Josh King has the story (@abridgetoland).</s>Hurricane Maria is set to hit many of the same Caribbean islands devastated by Hurricane Irma just two weeks ago. Maria, a Category 1 hurricane, has prompted hurricane warnings for several Caribbean islands as the storm strengthens while hurtling toward the Leeward Islands. Shock Hurricane Maria forecast from CBS Miami chief meteorologist Greg Setzer said the storm’s path could shift toward the US if it experiences a “big disruption” while surging through the Caribbean. While showing terrifying spaghetti models skirting toward the Miami on the US coast in Florida, Setzer says: “How the land interacts with the storm will be a player in what happens with our weather here, or, maybe, our potential impacts.

“There are pretty light steering currents here, but if there’s a big disruption to the storm itself, it may move a little more west. “I’m not saying it’s coming to Florida, all of the models are to our east and this solution is probably the most likely solution, but we still can’t rule out us having to watch it here.” The latest NOAA National Hurricane Center 7am update says the eye of Hurricane Maria has appeared on Guadeloupe and Martinique’s radar, as well as a Barbados radar.

There is a tropical storm warning in place for Barbados, which has been spared so far during this hurricane season. Guadeloupe, Dominica and Martinique are expected to feel the worst of the hurricane’s effects and are subject to hurricane warnings.” Hurricane Maria could be “catastrophic” for Puerto Rico, according to NBC metrologist Bill Karins, who says it could receive a direct hit from the storm.

He said: “There’s an excellent chance that Maria will be a major hurricane very close to Puerto Rico in 48 hours.” Karins also noted Puerto Rico has not been hit by a major Category 4 or 5 hurricane since 1928. He tweeted: “Overnight model line paths of Maria have shifted slightly west toward the Virgin Islands, too early to know who will get hit harder.”</s>Maria is expected to develop into a “dangerous major hurricane.”</s>Just after Hurricane Irma battered the Caribbean, Hurricane Maria is gaining strength and on it's way. Josh King has the story (@abridgetoland).</s>Florida residents are drifting back from shelters and far-away havens to see Hurricane Irma's scattershot destruction.

Florida residents are drifting back from shelters and far-away havens to see Hurricane Irma's scattershot destruction.

The storage sizes of the new models are much larger than previous versions; the options are 64 GB or 256 GBS.

The storage sizes of the new models are much larger than previous versions; the options are 64 GB or 256 GBS.

Selena Gomez says she has received a kidney transplant due to her struggle with lupus.

Selena Gomez says she has received a kidney transplant due to her struggle with lupus.

London's Metropolitan Police and ambulance services are confirming they are at the scene of "an incident" at the Parsons Green subway station in the southwest of the capital.

London's Metropolitan Police and ambulance services are confirming they are at the scene of "an incident" at the Parsons Green subway station in the southwest of the capital.

An average of 135 children per day tested positive for opioid addiction or dependence in American emergency rooms, the study found,

An average of 135 children per day tested positive for opioid addiction or dependence in American emergency rooms, the study found,

MIAMI (AP) -- The National Hurricane Center in Miami says that Hurricane Maria has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it heads through the Caribbean.

As of 8 p.m., the eye of the storm is near the islands of Martinique and Dominica with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. It is moving west-northwest at 16 mph.

The storm is on a path that would take it near many of the islands wrecked by Hurricane Irma and on toward Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Hurricane warnings were posted for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat and Martinique.</s>Hurricane Maria is forecast to rapidly strengthen over the next two days as it takes aim at Caribbean islands devastated by Hurricane Irma just days ago.

“Significant strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Maria is expected to become a dangerous major hurricane before it moves through the Leeward Islands,” according to the National Hurricane Center’s latest update.

In its 5 a.m. update, the hurricane center placed Maria about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Martinique and about 130 miles (215 east-southeast) of Dominica.

The storm is currently a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 90 mph, and is forecast to continue moving toward the eastern Caribbean at 13 mph.

“Maria is likely to be at category 3 or 4 intensity by the time it moves into the extreme northeastern Caribbean Sea,” the center said in its forecast.

Maria is one of three storms churning in the Atlantic Ocean, but it poses the most danger to the hurricane-battered Caribbean.

“On the forecast track, the center of Maria will move across the Leeward Islands late today (Monday) and tonight and then over the extreme northeastern Caribbean Sea Tuesday and Tuesday night,” the NHC said.

Maria has prompted a hurricane warning for Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis and Montserrat.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Antigua and Barbuda, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Lucia. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds.

A hurricane watch has now been extended to Puerto Rico and its islands Vieques and Culebra. A watch was earlier put in place for the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Barthelemy and Anguilla — many of which were devastated when Irma blew through the Caribbean, killing 44 people. A hurricane watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds.

Torrential rainfall could cause deadly flash flooding and mudslides on islands that it crosses. Maria could dump 6 to 12 inches of rain across the Leeward Islands — including Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands — through Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Jose has weakened slightly as it churns north, but is sill threatening “dangerous surf and rip currents” along the US East Coast in the next few days, the hurricane center said.

Early Monday, the Category 1 hurricane was about 280 miles (450 kilometers) east-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and moving north at 9 mph.

“Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Some gradual weakening is expected during the next couple of days, however, Jose is forecast to remain a hurricane through Tuesday,” the NHC said.

While the center of Jose is expected to stay off from the US East Coast, “swells generated by Jose are affecting Bermuda, the Bahamas, and much of the US east coast,” the NHC said.

“These swells are likely to cause dangerous surf and rip current conditions for the next several days in these areas.”

Tropical storm watches are in place for portions of the eastern coast of the US stretching between Delaware and Massachusetts.

The hurricane center said that Jose would produce heavy rain as it passes near southern New England and the mid-Atlantic on Tuesday and Wednesday, but that based on current forecasting the risk of flooding would be “limited in scope.”

Lee, the third storm in the Atlantic, fizzled from a tropical storm to a tropical depression Sunday, the hurricane center said.

As of Monday morning, Lee was about 1,060 miles (1,710 kilometers) west of Cape Verde.

Lee’s maximum sustained winds have sputtered to 35 mph, and are expected to further weaken in the coming days.</s>Tropical Storm Maria formed in the Atlantic Saturday afternoon, threatening to pound islands already hit hard by Irma with another hurricane early next week.

In an 8 p.m. update, National Hurricane Center forecasters said Maria will likely bring dangerous winds,more storm surge and heavy rain to parts of the Lesser Antilles and strengthen into a hurricane Sunday, then approach the Leeward Islands on Monday. On Saturday evening, hurricane watches were issued for Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat and Guadeloupe. Tropical storm watches were issued for other islands in the chain.

By midweek, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico could again face fierce winds. The Coast Guard captain of the Port of San Juan warned that sustained gale force winds greater than 39 miles per hour may arrive within 72 hours, and advised pleasure craft “to seek safe harbor.”Read More…http://amp.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article173746616.html</s>WASHINGTON — A busy, destructive hurricane season this year continues. Soon after Irma, Hurricane Maria took aim at the Caribbean, strengthening into a Category 5 storm on Monday.

Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to engage in conversation about this article and others.</s>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is advising against all travel to the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat and Anguilla as islanders prepare for another battering. Members of the UK task force set to region in the wake of Hurricane Irma described the threat from Maria as “very real”. Lieutenant Colonel Paul Maynard, commanding officer of 40 Commando Royal Marines, said the monitoring equipment to keep track of hurricanes is currently out of action on Tortola. And as Maria threatens to strike British Overseas Territories, he said: “We are relying on other overseas territories and the US to just monitor that, the threat is very real.”

Lieut Col Maynard said debris left by Irma posed a major problem as another hurricane is "just going to pick all that up, spin it around and throw it like ammunition everywhere". He said: “It could cause potentially more casualties and fatalities than Irma did.” US National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasters said the weather front is predicted to become a Category 2 hurricane, with winds of up to 110mph set to lash islands in its path.

An NHC spokesman said: “Additional rapid strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Maria is expected to become a dangerous major hurricane before it moves through the Leeward Islands.” Maria is expected to make landfall on Tuesday or Wednesday with severe damage and coastal flooding expected. Up to 12 inches of rain is predicted, with "isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches" expected to hit the British Virgin Islands through Wednesday night. In Anguilla, a maximum amount of up to eight inches could fall. The NHC has warned "rainfall on these islands could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides".

Chris Austin from the Department for International Development, who is leading the UK's response to the the devastation left by Hurricane Irma, said the Joint Task Force is anticipating having to provide further short term relief as Maria edges closer. He said they have already provided 75 tonnes of aid - including shelter kits, food and water - but warned the 5,000 tarpaulins already distributed could be lost in the new weather front. Mr Austin said: “We are planning for the unexpected, we are planning for the worst, we need to demonstrate our own resilience because there could be some pretty sharp backwards steps I think.”

Speaking from the British Virgin Islands, Brigadier John Ridge, the second in command of the Joint Task Force, said: "Even with an hour of rain here at the moment, it runs straight off as there is no vegetation. "Normally it would get absorbed by the leaves, that's not there, and the storm drains which then divert the flow have all been blocked by the detritus that have run off the hills." He said additional reserve troops will be sent to the British Virgin Islands, but defended his decision to put troops potentially in harm's way, stating it is a "risk worth taking" because it ensures "extra capacity" to deal with any immediate problems in the aftermath. Brig Ridge said: ”Once the hurricane is through we can leap back into action, we have got the guys positioned in the right place so they are ready to react.”</s>(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — Hurricane Maria grew into an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm Monday as it barreled toward a potentially devastating collision with islands in the eastern Caribbean, and forecasters warned it was likely to become even stronger.

The storm's eye was expected to pass near Dominica later in the day on a path that would take it near many of the islands already wrecked by Hurricane Irma and then on toward a possible direct strike on Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

"This storm promises to be catastrophic for our island," said Ernesto Morales with the U.S. National Weather Service in San Juan. "All of Puerto Rico will experience hurricane force winds."

The U.S. territory imposed rationing of basic supplies including water, milk, baby formula, canned food, batteries and flashlights.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Maria had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph) in late afternoon. It was centered about 35 miles (55 kilometers) northeast of Martinique and 45 miles (70 kilometers) east-southeast of Dominica, and was heading west-northwest at 9 mph (15 kph).

The center said Maria would likely continue to gain strength for the next 24 hours or longer and could reach Category 5 status.

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

Forecasters said storm surge could raise water levels by 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 meters) near the storm's center. The storm was predicted to bring 10 to 15 inches (25 to 38 centimeters) of rain across the islands, with more in isolated areas.

Officials in Dominica closed schools and government offices and urged people to evacuate and seek shelters.

"We should treat the approaching hurricane very, very seriously," Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said. "This much water in Dominica is dangerous."

The small, mountainous island could be in trouble even if spared the storm's strongest winds. In August 2015, Tropical Storm Erika unleashed flooding and landslides that killed 31 people and destroyed more than 370 homes.

Officials in Guadeloupe said the French island would experience extremely heavy flooding starting in the afternoon and warned that many communities could be submerged overnight.

In nearby Martinique, authorities ordered people to remain indoors and said they should be prepared for power cuts and disruption in the water supply. All schools and non-essential public services were closed.

The storm's hurricane-force winds extended out about 25 miles (35 kilometers) from the eye, and tropical storm-force winds out as far as 125 miles (205 kilometers).

The current forecast track would carry it about 22 miles (35 kilometers) south of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands late Tuesday and early Wednesday, according to territorial Gov. Kenneth Mapp.

"We are going to have a very, very long night," Mapp said as he urged people in the territory to finish any preparations.

St. Thomas and St. John are still recovering from a direct hit by Hurricane Irma, which did extensive damage and caused four deaths on the two islands.

Officials and islanders were also bracing in Puerto Rico, which did not take a direct hit from Irma but still saw blackouts across much of the territory. Nearly 70,000 people remain without power, and Gov. Ricardo Rossello warned that more widespread outages are likely with Maria.

Forecasters said the storm would dump up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) 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.

Traffic was heavy Monday as people rushed to buy last-minute items. Among them was 70-year-old retiree Rafael Rivera, who clutched a small bag of dog treats for his dog and six puppies at home.

"This storm is coming with some bad intentions," he said at a San Juan store where some shoppers grumbled about empty shelves.

Rossello said Puerto Rico had prepared about 450 shelters capable of taking in up to 125,000 people in a worst-case scenario. Nearly 200 people are still in shelters due to Hurricane Irma. Classes were cancelled and government employees were to work only a half-day.

Farther north, long-lived Hurricane Jose continued to head northward well away from the U.S. East Coast but causing dangerous surf and rip currents. It was not expected to make landfall, but a tropical storm warning was in effect for coastal areas in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Tropical storm watches were posted for parts of New York's Long Island and Connecticut.

Jose was centered about 250 miles (405 kilometers) east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and was moving north at 10 mph (17 kph). It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph).

Seawater washed over parts of North Carolina's Outer Banks as Jose passed, and five people were knocked off a coastal jetty in Rhode Island by high surf caused by the storm. Officials said rescuers had to fight through rough surf to load the injured onto stretchers and get them to shore. All five were hospitalized.

In the Pacific, Tropical Storm Norma's threat to Mexico's Los Cabos resort area at the southern end of the Baja California Peninsula eased as forecasters said it was moving away from shore and expected to weaken.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Lee weakened into a tropical depression far out in the Atlantic and Hurricane Otis became a tropical storm far out in the Pacific. Neither threatened land.
Hurricane Maria has been upgraded from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane. Hurricane watches and warnings have been issued in parts of the Caribbean. It is following a path similar to Category 5 Hurricane Irma which left at least 82 dead.