Good morning.
At 5 am Hurricane Maria was located at 16.0 N and 62.3 W and was moving WNW (300 degrees) @ 9 mph. In looking at the Surface Map and the Water Vapor Loop below you can see Maria moving along the periphery of the high pressure ridge to its north. It is currently headed toward the extreme eastern tip of Puerto Rico. It should pass just offshore of it and the NE Coast of Puerto Rico tomorrow. It is going to be a close call for the extreme Eastern and NE parts of Puerto Rico. Maria is a very compact storm at present. The eye is 10 miles across and hurricane force winds only extend 20-25 miles from the center. To get major hurricane force winds the center would need to pass within 20 miles of you. A wobble either east or west could make a big difference. We'll probably have a better idea of just what they can expect early tomorrow am.
After it passes Puerto Rico it should turn to the NW and N and pass well east of Florida and most of the Bahamas. High pressure and dry air remain over Florida.
Elsewhere Lee is fizzing out being shorn by an upper level low to its NW, see Water Vapor Loop below. Not much else is out there at present. Even Tropical Africa is quiet.
Until next time, Matt.
At 5 am Hurricane Maria was located at 16.0 N and 62.3 W and was moving WNW (300 degrees) @ 9 mph. In looking at the Surface Map and the Water Vapor Loop below you can see Maria moving along the periphery of the high pressure ridge to its north. It is currently headed toward the extreme eastern tip of Puerto Rico. It should pass just offshore of it and the NE Coast of Puerto Rico tomorrow. It is going to be a close call for the extreme Eastern and NE parts of Puerto Rico. Maria is a very compact storm at present. The eye is 10 miles across and hurricane force winds only extend 20-25 miles from the center. To get major hurricane force winds the center would need to pass within 20 miles of you. A wobble either east or west could make a big difference. We'll probably have a better idea of just what they can expect early tomorrow am.
After it passes Puerto Rico it should turn to the NW and N and pass well east of Florida and most of the Bahamas. High pressure and dry air remain over Florida.
Elsewhere Lee is fizzing out being shorn by an upper level low to its NW, see Water Vapor Loop below. Not much else is out there at present. Even Tropical Africa is quiet.
Until next time, Matt.