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5am Maria Advisory

BULLETIN

Hurricane Maria Advisory Number   8

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL152017

500 AM AST Mon Sep 18 2017

…MARIA HEADED FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS…

EXPECTED TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BY TONIGHT OR EARLY

TUESDAY

SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST…0900 UTC…INFORMATION

———————————————-

LOCATION…14.6N 59.5W

ABOUT 100 MI…160 KM E OF MARTINIQUE

ABOUT 130 MI…215 KM ESE OF DOMINICA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…90 MPH…150 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 13 MPH…20 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…977 MB…28.85 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

——————–

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

A Hurricane Watch has been issued for Puerto Rico, Vieques, and

Culebra.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…

* Guadeloupe

* Dominica

* St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat

* Martinique

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…

* Antigua and Barbuda

* Saba and St. Eustatius

* St. Lucia

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…

* Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra

* U.S. Virgin Islands

* British Virgin Islands

* Saba and St. Eustatius

* St. Maarten

* St. Martin and St. Barthelemy

* Anguilla

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…

* Barbados

* St. Vincent and the Grenadines

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected

somewhere within the warning area.  Preparations to protect life and

property should be rushed to completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are

expected somewhere within the warning area.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible

within the watch area.  A watch is typically issued 48 hours

before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force

winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or

dangerous.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are

possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests elsewhere in the Lesser Antilles and the Dominican

Republic should monitor the progress of this system.

For storm information specific to your area in the United

States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please

monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service

forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside

the United States, please monitor products issued by your national

meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

——————————

At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Maria was located

near latitude 14.6 North, longitude 59.5 West. Maria is moving

toward the west-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this motion

with a decrease in forward speed is expected through Tuesday night.

On the forecast track, the center of Maria will move across the

Leeward Islands late today and tonight and then over the

extreme northeastern Caribbean Sea Tuesday and Tuesday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph (150 km/h) with higher

gusts.  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.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the

center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles

(165 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 977 mb (28.85 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

———————-

WIND:  Hurricane conditions are first expected within portions of

the Leeward Islands by late today, with tropical storm conditions

beginning during the day today.  Hurricane conditions are possible

within the hurricane watch area by Tuesday, with tropical storm

conditions possible tonight.  Tropical storm conditions are possible

in the tropical storm watch area through tonight.

STORM SURGE:  A dangerous storm surge accompanied by large and

destructive waves will raise water levels by as much as 5 to 7 feet

above normal tide levels near where the center of Maria moves

across the Leeward Islands.

RAINFALL: Maria is expected to produce total rain accumulations of

6 to 12 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches across the

central and southern Leeward Islands, including Puerto Rico and the

U.S. and British Virgin Islands, through Wednesday night.  Maria is

also expected to produce total rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches

with isolated maximum amounts of 8 inches over the remaining

northern Leeward Islands from Barbuda to Anguilla, as well as the

Windward Islands and Barbados.  Rainfall on all of these islands

could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

SURF:  Swells generated by Maria are affecting the Lesser Antilles.

These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip

current conditions.  Please consult products from your local

weather office.

NEXT ADVISORY

————-

Next intermediate advisory at 800 AM AST.

Next complete advisory at 1100 AM AST.

$$

Forecaster Pasch