At 800 PM AST (0000 UTC), the large eye of Hurricane Maria waslocated near latitude 20.9 North, longitude 70.0 West. Maria ismoving toward the northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h), and this generalmotion is expected to continue through tonight. A turn toward thenorth-northwest is forecast early Friday, with that motioncontinuing through Saturday. On the forecast track, Maria's eyewill continue to pass offshore of the northern coast of theDominican Republic this evening, and then move near or just east ofthe Turks and Caicos Islands and southeastern Bahamas latertonight and on Friday.Preliminary reports from an Air Force reconnaissance plane indicatethat the maximum sustained winds have increased to around 125 mph(205 km/h) with higher gusts. Maria is a category 3 hurricane onthe Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Little change in strengthis expected during the next couple of days.Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) fromthe center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160miles (260 km).
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...* Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to Puerto Plata* Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern BahamasA Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...* Dominican Republic west of Puerto Plata to the northern border ofthe Dominican Republic and HaitiA Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...* Central Bahamas