This is breaking as I write this, recon is finding intense winds within the core of Hurricane Maria.
Hurricane Maria Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL152017
745 PM AST Mon Sep 18 2017
...HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT FIND MARIA AS CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE ON
THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE...
Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft data indicate Hurricane
Maria has intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 5
hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with maximum
winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) with higher gusts. A special advisory
will be issued at 800 PM AST (0000 UTC) in lieu of the scheduled
intermediate advisory for Maria.
SUMMARY OF 745 PM AST...2345 UTC...INFORMATION
---------------------------------------------------
LOCATION...15.3N 61.1W
ABOUT 15 MI...25 KM ESE OF DOMINICA
ABOUT 40 MI...70 KM N OF MARTINIQUE
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...160 MPH...260 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...929 MB...27.43 INCHES
$$
Forecaster Brown/Blake
They’ve actually found winds higher, closer to 150kts, but these may not be valid (rain tends to contaminate readings from dropsondes.
Dominica has taken the brunt of multiple intense hurricanes over the last decade, and one tropical storm that actually came through far to the north last year. Erika flooded Dominica severely.
I’m kind of at a loss for words now. I’ve spent most of my childhood, and entire adult life, tracking these storms and...I kind of don’t want to do it anymore.
Please keep the people of Dominica in your thoughts. They’re in for a horrible night.
Puerto Rico and the USVI are next tomorrow.