New Tropical Storm Maria Set to Cause Damage, Travel Delays

Miami, Florida before the storm

A new tropical storm is expected to become Hurricane Maria at the start of the week, while Jose is causing heavy surf along the U.S. East Coast and Tropical Storm Norma is heading towards the Baja California Peninsula.

The storm, expected to hit hurricane Category 1 status Monday, is currently located about 755 miles (1,215 kilometers) west of the Lesser Antilles and is moving west at the pace of 22 mph (35 km/h). The system is likely to pound the islands which were blasted by Hurricane Irma last week.

Tropical storm watches are already in effect for Barbados, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent.

The storm is expected to cause significant damage and snarl travel wherever it should land.

Later in the week it is expected to head towards the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. While the storm could approach the continental United States, its path is unknown at this time.

Meanwhile, Norma is predicted to hit the peninsula as early as Sunday night. The region, which includes the cities of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo was hit about two weeks ago by Tropical Storm Lidia. The hurricane center said that tropical storm watches were possible for the U.S. East Coast later from North Carolina to New England.

The U.S. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration said that the Atlantic Ocean’s 2017 hurricane season will see more storms than normal, with 11 to 17 named storms, five to nine hurricanes, and two to four major storms.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)