Miami, Fla. (970 WFLA)- At 5:00 AM , the center of Hurricane Maria was located near latitude 14.6 North, longitude 59.5 West. The center of Maria is about 100 miles east of Martinique, and about 130 miles east=southeast of Dominica.
Maria is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph, 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 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 from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 977 mb (28.85 inches).
Graphic Credit: NHC Miami