hurricane maria hurricane maria category hurricane landfall island newfoundland september originating tropical wave central atlantic september maria moved west slowly strengthened approaching northern leeward_islands system entered region higher vertical wind shear cooler sea surface temperatures causing low pressure area slowly curved north northeast western periphery subtropical ridge regained tropical storm status september maria strengthened attain hurricane status making closest approach bermuda cyclone attained peak winds mph september weakened increase wind shear cooler sea surface temperatures maria landfall southeastern coast newfoundland afternoon hours september absorbed frontal system later day despite poor organization maria brought heavy rainfall portions east caribbean notably puerto_rico numerous roadways homes flooded storm passed extreme northeastern caribbean people went power addition tropical storm force winds observed system passed west bermuda brief tropical storm force sustained winds recorded higher gusts rainfall island minimal newfoundland strong winds recorded rainfall totals relatively minimal deaths reported association maria storm caused million usd damage meteorological history origins hurricane maria traced tropical wave elongated area low pressure oriented north south moved westward nigeria september wave entered eastern tropical atlantic early following day slowly strengthened september developed sufficient convection designated tropical depression fourteen west southwest southern time developed established outflow western low pressure center depression continued increase strength upgraded tropical storm hours formation receiving maria early september national_hurricane_center nhc noted maria area favorable atmospheric conditions intensity guidance models strengthening system changed little organization hours moved rapidly west northwest southern periphery subtropical ridge visible satellite imagery depicted organized circulation center displaced strongest convection increased vertical wind shear system reached initial peak intensity maximum sustained winds mph september unfavorable environment began system organization following reconnaissance flight system early september noted maria degenerated non tropical disturbance despite reports tropical storm force winds northern leeward_islands operationally nhc kept system classified tropical cyclone downgraded disturbance system approached northern leeward_islands september satellite imagery surface observations revealed increase organization subsequent reconnaissance aircraft disturbance revealed remnants maria tropical cyclone east southeast antigua reaching southwestern periphery subtropical ridge maria turned north forward motion slowed considerably strong vertical wind shear system began relax september allowing maria slowly convection redeveloped near center utc september maria reached category hurricane status saffir simpson hurricane scale located roughly northwest bermuda embedded increasing atmospheric flow hurricane forward motion accelerated northeast utc september maria attained peak intensity winds mph minimum barometric pressure mbar inhg continuing northeastward course maria began area cooler sea surface temperatures higher vertical wind shear utc maria weakened tropical storm landfall near newfoundland utc winds mph shortly cyclone circulation absorbed frontal system peninsula newfoundland preparations impact caribbean maria arrival tropical storm watches issued lesser antilles september watches upgraded tropical storm warnings utc following day puerto_rico placed tropical storm watch watches warnings islands discontinued utc september strong thunderstorms diminished maria center storm effects island puerto_rico primarily form heavy rainfall flood waters near destroyed homes bridges causing million usd damage surrounding city puerto_rico heavy rainfall flooded damaged homes people forced relocate rainfall mud filled homes near city puerto_rico car year old woman swept away flood waters road bushes woman able car pulled safety nearly month storm president barack_obama announced federal disaster aid available island maria bermuda following maria regeneration tropical cyclone tropical storm watch issued island bermuda september watch upgraded warning later day utc following day replaced hurricane watch watches warnings island discontinued september maria bypassed bermuda september outer bands briefly produced tropical storm force winds island sustained winds reached mph gusts high mph winds mph reported utc september newfoundland anticipation declared tropical storm watch coast newfoundland september stretched cove south hours later upgraded hurricane watch tropical storm watch effect cove jones harbor utc following day watches warnings replaced hurricane warning areas south newfoundland placed tropical storm warning tropical cyclone watches warnings discontinued utc september absorbed september maria landfall southern tip peninsula newfoundland winds mph recorded offshore winds reached mph capital city experienced heavy rain extent forecast storm moved peninsula faster predicted
Hurricane Maria (2011)