MIAMI –
Tropical storm Maria is Sunday so far increased in strength that there is now there is a hurricane that is headed on the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Guadeloupe. That is the latest prediction from the National Hurricane Center. If that is true then that is encouraging news for the more northern Saint Eustatius, Saba, and especially Sint Maarten, that are heavily affected by hurricane Irma.
Maria is now located approximately 225 kilometres north-oostnoordoosten of Barbados and draws in westnoordwestelijke direction. The wind speeds names Sunday to 120 kilometers per hour, which is hurricane force (category 1) means. According to the NHC, that with a research aircraft on the ground, is located in the Martinique is still in the danger zone. France had for Guadeloupe already a orkaanwaarschuwing issued. The other windward islands should take account of heavy rainfall.