Miami, Fla. (970 WFLA)- At 5:00 AM, the eye of Hurricane Maria was located near latitude 21.6 North, longitude 70.6 West. Maria is about 35 miles east-northeast of Grand Turk Island, and about 490 miles east-southeast of Nassau.
Maria is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph, and a motion toward the north-northwest is expected later today and Saturday. On the forecast track, Maria's eye will move near or just east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeastern Bahamas today.
Maximum sustained winds are near 125 mph with higher gusts. Maria is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. A gradual weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 959 mb (28.32 inches).
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...* 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 ofthe Dominican Republic and Haiti
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...* Central Bahamas
Graphic credit: NHC Miami