Monday September 18

Maria is now a major hurricane with winds of 120 mph and it is expected to continue to strengthen over the next day or two. The track of this storm is just south of the Jose and Irma path but wil be impacting some of the same islands. The center of the forecast cone puts it over the US Virgin Island of St. Thomas and Puerto Rico. Both of these areas got a glancing but damaging blow from Irma and a hit from Maria would be absolutely devastating.

This report is to give more detail about the impact on the US islands interest in the region just to consolidate information. The impact will be widespread and my heart goes out to all of the islands across the path that will be affected.

Below are close up maps of the projected path and where the stronger side of the storm will be. Also the latest forecast animation and what it may do off the US east coast next week.

NHC Stats As of 11 AM

LOCATION…14.7N 60.1W
ABOUT 60 MI…95 KM E OF MARTINIQUE
ABOUT 95 MI…150 KM ESE OF DOMINICA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…120 MPH...195 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 10 MPH…17 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…959 MB…28.32 INCHES

 

Smaller Core Storm

  • 15 Miles = Hurricane Force Wind Field
  • 125 Miles = Tropical Storm Force Wind Field

Hurricane Structure

It is important to note the stronger and weaker side of a tropical system, especially since the wind field is small with this storm.  The right side has winds around the eye wall with the forward motion, maximizing the wind and storm surge. The left side has the winds flowing opposite to the forward motion and thus counteracting the affects making it the weaker side.

 

Close Up Forecast Path

The latest forecast path does put St. Thomas on the right side of the eye wall. Meanwhile the eye is forecast to cut across Puerto Rico. Some wiggle room is possible.

  • Category 3 = 111 mph to 129 mph
  • Category 4 = 130 mph to 156 mph
  • Category 5 = 157 mph +

Note:

Wind Speed of 130 knots = 150 mph

Wind Gust Forecast of 160 knots = 184 mph

Getting Stronger: Intensity Forecast

Watches and Warnings

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* Guadeloupe
* Dominica
* St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat
* Martinique
* St. Lucia
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* British Virgin Islands

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Antigua and Barbuda
* Saba and St. Eustatius
* St. Maarten
* Anguilla

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra
* 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

National Hurricane Center Forecast Map

 

Outlook For US East Coast?

I need to point out that I DO NOT support locking in a forecast track more than 5 days away. That is what the cone from NHC widens. There are too many variables such as forward speed and intensity that can dramatically change the plotting of a storm farther out in time. So this forecast for the east coast has changed from a hit as recently as yesterday’s modeling to now curving away from the coast. This will depend on how this behaves in the islands and if it weakens more or holds intensity longer.

Also See: Tropical Storm Watch in Ocean City and Northeast for Hurricane Jose

GFS Model Plot From Monday Morning

7 PM Fri Sep 22 to 7 PM Fri Sep 29

*Day 4 to Day 11 in the forecast period

GFS now shows a clip along OBX. This is father west than all overnight models that showed this turning safely out to sea. I expect more wobbling of the model projections as the short term intensity and path are subject to change.

 

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Proceeds go to programs that help children and their families ensuring cancer treatment.

 

 

 

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