Many of the islands hit hard by Hurricane Irma two weeks ago are now bracing for another storm, Hurricane Maria, as it prepares to make landfall in the northeast Caribbean’s Leeward Islands on Monday night.
The hurricane upgraded to a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center. But it is expected to continue gaining in intensity over the next 24 hours.
Hurricane Maria is projected to hit Puerto Rico head on by mid-week as a Category 4 storm, making it the first Category 4 hurricane to hit the island in 85 years. Ahead of the storm’s expected landfall Wednesday, the governor of Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency and sent a pre-landfall emergency declaration request to President Trump on Sunday night.
“Maria is likely to affect Puerto Rico as an extremely dangerous major hurricane,” the National Hurricane Center warned Monday.
The U.S. commonwealth is forecast to see between 12 and 18 inches of rain.
A hurricane warning is currently in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, and the British Virgin Islands, among other Caribbean islands. A hurricane watch is in effect for Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, St. Martin, and Anguilla.
As of 11 a.m. Monday, Hurricane Maria was located roughly 60 miles east of Martinique and expected to continue moving west-northwest at 10 miles per hour, the National Hurricane Center said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has begun preparing for Hurricane Maria in the U.S. Virgin Islands, bringing extra food and water.
Additionally, Puerto Rico’s governor announced Saturday 450 shelters were set up across the island with enough space for more than 62,000 people.
Models forecast Hurricane Maria will steer clear of Florida and the United States.
