Tropical storm Maria threatening battered Caribbean islands
Posted Sep 17, 2017 01:30:02 PM.
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Tropical Storm Maria has formed in the Atlantic and is forecast to strengthen and brush by some islands that were recently wrecked by Hurricane Irma.
The hurricane centre said Maria is about 590 miles (950 kms) east-southeast of the Lesser Antilles. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and was heading west at 10 mph (30 kph).
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat.
Maria is expected to be a hurricane as it approaches the Leeward Islands on Monday.
Maria could also affect the British and U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by mid-week as a dangerous major hurricane, and hurricane watches could be issued for these islands as early as Sunday.
The death toll from Irma in the Caribbean stands at 38.
Hurricane season roared on Saturday as Jose threatened heavy surf along the U.S. East Coast while Tropical Storm Norma edged toward Mexico’s resort-studded Baja California Peninsula.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Lee formed in the Atlantic far from land.
A tropical storm warning was in effect for the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula due to Norma, which the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported had weakened into a tropical storm on Saturday, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph).
Norma was 210 miles (335 kilometres) south of Cabo San Lucas and moving north at 3 mph (6 kph), with forecasters saying it could approach waters southwest of the peninsula late Sunday or early Monday.
The peninsular region that’s home to the twin resort cities of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo was hit about two weeks ago by Tropical Storm Lidia, which flooded streets and homes and killed at least four people.
The Baja California Sur government readied storm shelters and cancelled classes for Monday as well as a planned military parade in the state capital, La Paz, amid Mexican Independence Day celebrations.
In the Atlantic, Hurricane Jose was far from land but generating powerful swells that the centre said were affecting coastal areas in Bermuda, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the U.S. southeast.
The centre added that tropical storm watches were possible for the U.S. East Coast later in the day and advised people from North Carolina to New England to monitor Jose’s progress.
The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph). It was located about 485 miles (775 kilometres) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and was heading north at 6 mph (9 kph).
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Lee formed in the Atlantic and Tropical Storm Otis in the Pacific. Neither threatened land.
