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Tropical Storm Maria is racing westward across the Atlantic with no significant strengthening is anticipated, according to the National Hurricane Center.
At 5 p.m., Maria’s center was located 13.2 N, 44.2 W, about 1,205 miles east of the Leeward Islands. The weather system is packing maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour, with higher gusts and is moving west at 23 miles per hour. Tropical Storm Maria is expected to continue on this track for the next 24 hours with a gradual decrease in forward speed thereafter. Tropical force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center.
The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that little change in strength is forecast with developing wind shear expected to affect the system over the next five days. An Air Force reconnaissance plane is scheduled to reach Tropical Storm Maria late on Thursday to gather additional data on the storm.
The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) is continuing to closely track Tropical Storm Maria and urges the public to do the same. In a conference call with the National Weather Service, meteorologists projected that this weather system would bring heavy rains to the Virgin Islands.
VITEMA Director Elton Lewis is urging the public to monitor weather reports and to ensure that preparedness remains a top priority.
VITEMA will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. VITEMA also encourages individuals to sign up for VI Alert, a free service that provides emergency weather alerts via text message, e-mail and fax. Visit
www.VITEMA.gov and click on VI Alert to register.
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