Two Cold Fronts Moving Into Eastern U.S. Pushing Storm Out To Sea

Despite a more southerly track through the Atlantic than its predecessor, Hurricane Katia, Tropical Storm Maria will end up having the same fate.  A much weaker storm, Maria is already turning northward, and will cause some trouble for Bermuda, but steer clear of the United States East Coast.  The storm has been battling tough environmental conditions, which has hindered its ability to intensify.

As of the 5:00 PM Advisory on Wednesday from the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, the center of Maria was located 495 miles Southwest of Bermuda, and 450 miles East-Northeast of the Central Bahamas.  The storm was moving to the North at 15 miles per hour, and had maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour and wind gusts in excess of 70 miles per hour.  Minimum central pressure in Maria was 1001 millibars, or 29.53 inches of Hg.

Tropical storm force winds extend some 175 miles from the center of the circulation.  A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Bermuda, which currently is in the more potent eastern side of the storm if it continues on its current path.  Rainfall amounts of one to three inches is expected across Bermuda by Thursday morning, and tropical storm conditions are expected to begin impacting Bermuda by late Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Maria is showing some indications of some strengthening.

According to the latest forecast discussion from the NHC, Maria has been getting better organized.  Its overall cloud structure has improved, and the center of the circulation, which lies to the west of most of the convection, may be reforming closer to the showers and storms.  Tropical Storm Maria is going to be situated in a more favorable environment for strengthening with moderate shear and warm water.

The forecast is calling for Maria to have winds of 70 miles per hour within 24 hours, and stay at that level for another 12 hours afterward before transitioning to an extratropical low by Friday.  The approach of two cold fronts on Thursday will not only bring in a feel of fall along much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, but it will help push Maria out to sea and absorb it.  The latest track has Maria moving more to the right.  The storm will pass just to the west of Bermuda, and then race out to the south of Newfoundland by Friday afternoon.