Late Sunday it appeared Maria would move northward in the Atlantic Ocean, east of Florida. Much is dependent on whether a ridge of high pressure allows the storm to move northward.
Maria is forecast to become a major hurricane today, and by Wednesday the storm is forecast to become a Category 4 hurricane with winds of more than 140 mph, the National Hurricane Center said Sunday evening. The storm is forecast to move through the Leeward Islands, many already reeling from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Irma. Hurricane watches have been posted in the US and British Virgin Islands.
Maria is forecast to move over Puerto Rico as it reaches peak intensity on Wednesday, prompting concerns across the island.
Jose, passing far to the east of Florida, prompted rip current warnings and coastal flooding advisories from the National Weather Service over the weekend. Volusia County Beach Safety reported 15 people had to be rescued from the surf over the weekend, as the surf greatly increased. Beach safety officials also warned of the risk of submerged debris from Hurricane Irma.
Jose has prompted tropical storm watches from Delaware to Cape Cod. Its moderate to large swells are forecast to continue to affect the eastern Florida coast through mid week, the Weather Service said, causing rip currents and poor offshore boating conditions.
Tropical Depression Lee is forecast to become a remnant low on Monday, far out east in the Atlantic Ocean.
Ahead of Maria's path, the Hurricane Center said hurricane warnings are in effect for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat and Martinique. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, on of the islands devastated by Irma.
Ahurricane watch is in effect for the Virgin Islands, Saba, St. Maarten, St. Martin and Anguilla.
In Puerto Rico, the Governor, Ricardo Rossello, stated officials had prepared about 450 shelters with a capacity of nearly 68,000 people, the Associated Press reported Sunday. Puerto Rico was spared the worst of Irma, but electricity was knocked out to much of the island.
Gov. Ricardo Rossello said officials had prepared about 450 shelters with a capacity for nearly 68,000 people — or even 125,000 in an emergency, the AP reported. He said schools were cancelled for Monday and government employees would work only a half day.
Officials in the Dominican Republic urged people to leave areas prone to flooding and said fishermen should remain in port.
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