At 1100 PM EDT (0300 UTC), the large eye of Hurricane Maria was
located near latitude 24.1 North, longitude 71.7 West. Maria is
moving toward the north-northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h), but a
gradual turn to the north should begin on Saturday. This forecast
will bring the core of Maria east of the Bahamas on Saturday, and
then over the open waters of the western Atlantic.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 125 mph (205 km/h) with higher
gusts. Maria is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale. No important changes in intensity are
expected on Saturday, but gradual weakening should begin on Sunday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles
(295 km).