Hurricane Maria Continues to Strengthen, Hits 175mph

It's expected to remain a category 5 when it hits US Virgin Island, Puerto Rico
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Sep 19, 2017 6:55 PM CDT
Hurricane Maria Continues to Strengthen, Hits 175mph
This photo provided by Frank Phazian shows flooding caused by Hurricane Maria near Le Raizet, Guadeloupe, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.   (Frank Phazian via AP)

Category 5 Hurricane Maria's maximum sustained winds have increased to 175mph, the AP reports. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter plane took the reading Tuesday evening as the storm was about 70 miles southeast of St. Croix. Maria is moving west-northwest at 10mph and is expected to pass near the US Virgin Islands on Tuesday night and hit Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands, as well as St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat and portions of the Dominican Republic. Hurricane center forecasters say it "now appears likely" that Maria will still be at category 5 intensity when it moves over the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Hurricane Maria is expected to bring "life-threatening" flooding from rain and storm surge. (More Hurricane Maria stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X