Tropical storm Maria upgraded to Category 1 hurricane as it tracks toward Barbados and St Lucia

The Caribbean is braced for more catastrophic weather after tropical storm Maria strengthened to a hurricane as it tracks towards Barbados and St Lucia.

Maria was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane by the National Hurricane Center at 9 pm UTC.

The governments of Barbados and St Lucia earlier warned citizens that tropical storm Maria could hit in the form of a hurricane within 36 hours.

The latest advisory includes additional warnings for parts of the Leeward Islands. A hurricane warning is now in effect for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat.

The advisory states that Hurricane Maria is around 225 kilometers northeast of Barbados and 445 kilometers southeast of Dominica.

Maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour have been recorded.

Scores of Caribbean islands such as St Martin and Barbuda are already reeling from the effects of the Category Five hurricane Irma.

And US weather experts have warned that the two locations are among 12 islands potentially in the path of hurricane Maria.
[ rt.com]
 17/9/17