EFTA02366768

From: Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2017 8:02 PM To: Richard Kahn;1 E Subject: HURRICANE MARIA UPDATE -- TUE SEPT 19 -- 11 AM FYI POTENTIALLY CA=ASTROPHIC HURRICANE MARIA CONTINUES WEST- NORTHWESTWARD TOWARD THE VIRGIN l=LANDS AND PUERTO RICO At 11 a..m., the center of potentially c=tastrophic Category Five Hurricane Maria was located near 16.3 de=rees north, 63.1 degrees west or about 150 miles southeast of St.=Croix. A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Virgin Islands.=/div> Maria is m=ving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph, and this general motion is expe=ted to continue through Wednesday night. On the forecast track, the e=e of Maria will move over the northeastern Caribbean Sea today, and then=pass near or over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Wednesday. M=ximum sustained winds are near 160 mph with higher gusts. S=me fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Mar=a is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous Category Four or Five h=rricane until it moves near or over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. =br>Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center=and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles. A NOAA=buoy located a little west of the center, recently reported 1-min average w=nds of 69 mph and a wind gust of 83 mph. ESTIMATED STORM=IMPACT On the current forecast track, the center o= Maria will pass within ten miles of St. Croix around 2 a.m. Wednesday=. At that time, Hurricane Maria wi=l be a Category Four Hurricane with sustained winds of 155 miles per h=ur. WIND IMPACT =font size="6">St. Croix will begin to feel the effects of tropical storm force wind= (winds between 39.73 miles per hour) around 2 p.m. today with hurrica=e force winds (winds stronger than 74 miles per hour) affecting St. Croix f=r seven hours beginning at 11 p.m. tonight. The highest sustained wind=forecast for St. Croix will occur around 2 a.m. Wednesday with su=tained winds reaching 145 miles per hour. EFTA_R1_01364049 EFTA02366768 2 EFTA_R1_01364050 EFTA02366769