8 pm Wednesday: Hurricane Maria Intermediate Advisory

At 800 PM AST (0000 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Maria was located

by an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft near latitude 18.9 North,

longitude 67.5 West. Maria is moving toward the northwest near 12

mph (19 km/h), and this general motion with a decrease in forward

speed is expected through Thursday night. A turn toward the

north-northwest is forecast on Friday.  On the forecast track, the

core of Hurricane Maria will continue to move away from the

northwestern coast of Puerto Rico this evening.  The core will then

pass offshore of the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic

tonight and Thursday and then move near the Turks and Caicos Islands

and southeastern Bahamas Thursday night and Friday.


Preliminary data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft

indicate that maximum sustained winds remain near 110 mph (175

km/h) with higher gusts.  Some strengthening is forecast during the

next day or two, and Maria could regain major hurricane status by

Thursday.


Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from

the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150

miles (240 km).


SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:


A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* Puerto Rico, Culebra, and Vieques

* 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 of

the Dominican Republic and Haiti

* Dominican Republic west of Cabo Engano to Punta Palenque


A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Dominican Republic from Isla Saona to Cabo Engano


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