Where is Hurricane Maria heading next?
TAMPA (FOX 13) - At 6:15 a.m. Wednesday morning, Hurricane Maria made landfall on the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico near the city of Yabucoa. At landfall, Maria had sustained winds of 155 mph. It is the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in Puerto Rico since 1932.
After departing Puerto Rico later today, Maria will continue on a path that will take it north of the Dominican Republic, but very near the Turks & Caicos by Friday morning. Maria should weaken a bit over the next day or two, but will still be a dangerous major hurricane by the end of the week.
The storm will stay well east of Florida, but those along the east coast of the United States from North Carolina to New England should monitor the progress of Maria closely.
Models have been pretty consistent in keeping the storm well offshore of the Carolinas, but at the very least some big swells can be expected early next week, especially along the Outer Banks of North Carolina.