NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL152017
200 PM AST Wed Sep 20 2017
…AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE FINDS MARIA’S CENTER JUST
OFFSHORE OF THE NORTHWESTERN COAST OF PUERTO RICO…
SUMMARY OF 200 PM AST…1800 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————-
LOCATION…18.5N 66.9W
ABOUT 15 MI…20 KM W OF ARECIBO PUERTO RICO
ABOUT 95 MI…155 KM E OF PUNTA CANA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…115 MPH…185 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NW OR 305 DEGREES AT 12 MPH…19 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…961 MB…28.38 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
——————–
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* British Virgin Islands
* Puerto Rico, Culebra, and Vieques
* Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to Puerto Plata
* Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern Bahamas
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Dominican Republic west of Puerto Plata to the northern border of
the Dominican Republic and Haiti
* Dominican Republic west of Cabo Engano to Punta Palenque
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Dominican Republic from Isla Saona to Cabo Engano
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.
Interests elsewhere in Hispaniola and the Bahamas should monitor the
progress of Maria.
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 200 PM AST (1800 UTC), the center of Hurricane Maria was located
by an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft just offshore of
the northwestern coast of Puerto Rico near latitude 18.5 North,
longitude 66.9 West. Maria is moving toward the northwest near 12
mph (19 km/h), and this general motion with a gradual decrease in
forward speed is expected through early Friday. On the forecast
track, the center of Maria will move away from the northwestern
coast of Puerto Rico this afternoon. The center will then pass
offshore of the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic tonight
and Thursday and then move near the Turks and Caicos Islands and
southeastern Bahamas Thursday night and Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher
gusts. Maria is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale. Little change in strength is forecast during
the next 48 hours, and Maria is expected to remain a dangerous major
hurricane through Friday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from
the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150
miles (240 km). A sustained wind of 45 mph (72 km/h) with a gust
to 77 mph (124 km/h) was recently reported at Mayaguez, Puerto
Rico. A sustained wind of 46 mph (74 km/h) with a gust to 76 mph
(122 km/h) was recently reported at Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
The minimum central pressure based on the aircraft data is 961 mb
(28.38 inches).
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/69541-hurricane-maria-intermediate-advisory-number-18a
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