Published 17 September 2017
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Tropical Storm Maria Strengthening
At 5:00 p.m. today, the center of Tropical Storm Maria was centered near latitude 12.3 north, longitude 52.6 west or 570 miles or 917 km east southeast of Saint Lucia. Maria is moving toward the west near 20 mph or 31 km/h. A slower west-northwest motion is expected during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the system is expected to approach the Leeward Islands on Monday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph or 55 km/h with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours and Maria is forecast to be a hurricane when it approaches the Leeward Islands early next week.
Repeating the 5:00 p.m. Position of Tropical Storm Maria, latitude 12.3 north, longitude 52.6 west or 570 miles or 917 km east southeast of Saint Lucia.
Showers and thunderstorms associated with the outer bands of this system is expected to affect Saint Lucia late Sunday.
Residents of Saint Lucia and the rest of the windward and leeward islands are asked to closely monitor the progress of this system. Persons living in areas prone to flooding and landslides should take all necessary precautions against these hazards.
This is the third advisory issued by the Saint Lucia Meteorological Office on this system.
The next advisory will be issued at 8:00 pm today.
