5 pm Thursday, Maria Heading for Turks and Caicos

MIAMI (970 WFLA) -- As Puerto Rico begins the slow process of digging out from Hurricane Maria, tropical storm force winds are arriving over the Turks and Caicos Islands near the Bahamas. Maria's top sustained winds are at 120 mph. Here's the latest from the National Hurricane Center: 


500 PM AST Thu Sep 21 2017
...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS BEGINNING TO SPREAD OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS...

SUMMARY OF 500 PM AST...2100 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...20.8N 69.8W ABOUT 90 MI...145 KM NE OF PUERTO PLATA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ABOUT 95 MI...155 KM ESE OF GRAND TURK ISLAND MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH...195 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 315 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...960 MB...28.35 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The government of the Dominican Republic has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning along the southern coast of the Dominican Republic west of Cabo Engano.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to Puerto Plata * Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern Bahamas
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Dominican Republic west of Puerto Plata to the northern border of the Dominican Republic and Haiti
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * Central Bahamas
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.  Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
Interests elsewhere in Hispaniola and the Bahamas should monitor the progress of Maria.
For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the large eye of Hurricane Maria was located near latitude 20.8 North, longitude 69.8 West.  Maria is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through tonight.  A turn toward the north-northwest is forecast early Friday, with that motion continuing through Saturday.  On the forecast track, Maria's eye will continue to pass offshore of the northern coast of the Dominican Republic this evening, and then move near or just east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeastern Bahamas tonight and on Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher gusts.  Maria is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Little change in strength is expected during the next couple of days.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles (260 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 960 mb (28.35 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- WIND:  Hurricane and tropical storm conditions continue across portions of the Dominican Republic.  Tropical storm conditions are beginning to spread across the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas, and hurricane conditions are expected tonight or early Friday.  Tropical storm conditions are possible in the central Bahamas beginning late Friday.
STORM SURGE:  A dangerous storm surge accompanied by large and destructive waves will raise water levels by as much as 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels in the hurricane warning area in the Dominican Republic, and 1 to 3 ft elsewhere along the northern coasts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
A dangerous storm surge accompanied by large and destructive waves will raise water levels by as much as 9 to 12 feet above normal tide levels within the hurricane warning area of the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
RAINFALL:  Maria is expected to produce the following rainfall accumulations through Saturday:
Puerto Rico...additional 4 to 8 inches, isolated maximum storm total amounts 40 inches Northern and eastern Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, and Mayaguana in southeast Bahamas...8 to 16 inches, isolated 20 inches Inagua Islands, Crooked Island, and rest of southeast Bahamas...4 to 8 inches Northern Haiti...4 to 8 inches
Rainfall on these islands will continue to cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
SURF:  Swells generated by Maria are affecting Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the northern coast of Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the southeastern Bahamas.  These swells will reach the remainder of the Bahamas tonight and should reach portions of the United States southeastern coast on Friday.  These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next intermediate advisory at 800 PM AST. Next complete advisory at 1100 PM AST.
$$ Forecaster Berg
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