<p>US National Hurricane Center (NHC)<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/after-irma-hurricane-maria-follows-in-same-path-20331">&nbsp;said on Monday&nbsp;Maria had strengthened into a &quot;major&quot; Category</a> Three hurricane with maximum wind speeds of 120 miles per hour as it battered eastern Caribbean&nbsp;still recovering from hurricane Irma.</p>

<p>The Maimi-based NHC had <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/florida-hit-by-power-cuts-as-storm-irma-weakens-20097">earlier said Maria was a Category Two </a>hurricane while it was approaching French territory of Guadeloupe.</p>

<p>&quot;Maria is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane as it moves through the Leeward Islands and the northeastern Caribbean Sea,&quot; the NHC said.</p>

<p>The hurricane&nbsp;could produce &quot;a dangerous storm surge&quot; along with &quot;large and destructive waves&quot;, the forecaster added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hurricane&nbsp;Maria could raise water levels by six to nine feet when it cuts its path across the eastern Caribbean, NHC warned.</p>

<p>The region was put on high alert with schools and government officers ordered to remain closed.</p>

<p>St Lucia, Dominica, St Kitts,&nbsp;Nevis,&nbsp;British island of Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands were also put on alert.</p>

<p>French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said that &quot;we will have major difficulties if Guadeloupe is hard hit, as it was the logistical centre from where we could supply St Martin and organise all the airlifts.&quot;</p>

<p>The Caribbean islands are still recovering from the impact of hurricane Irma which led to large-scale destruction and loss of lives.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Maria continues to intensify. Now a major hurricane w/ 120 mph winds. Get the latest update here: <a href="https://t.co/EStvB6AcrZ">https://t.co/EStvB6AcrZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/izEql3PwQi">pic.twitter.com/izEql3PwQi</a></p>
&mdash; NWS (@NWS) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWS/status/909795899223760897">September 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/hurricane1-20170918040915.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Satellite image obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Maria on September 18, 2017. (AFP)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Hurricane Maria picked up strength and roared towards the Leeward Islands on Monday on a track that could whip several eastern Caribbean islands

US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Monday Maria had strengthened into a "major" Category Three hurricane with maximum wind speeds of 120 miles per hour as it battered eastern Caribbean still recovering from hurricane Irma. The Maimi-based NHC had earlier said Maria was a Category Two hurricane while it was approaching French territory of Guadeloupe. "Maria is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane as it moves through the Leeward Islands and the northeastern Caribbean Sea," the NHC said. The hurricane could produce "a dangerous storm surge" along with "large and destructive waves", the forecaster added. Hurricane Maria could raise water levels by six to nine feet when it cuts its path across the eastern Caribbean, NHC warned. The region was put on high alert with schools and government officers ordered to remain closed. St Lucia, Dominica, St Kitts, Nevis, British island of Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands were also put on alert. French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said that "we will have major difficulties if Guadeloupe is hard hit, as it was the logistical centre from where we could supply St Martin and organise all the airlifts." The Caribbean islands are still recovering from the impact of hurricane Irma which led to large-scale destruction and loss of lives. Maria continues to intensify. Now a major hurricane w/ 120 mph winds. Get the latest update here: https://t.co/EStvB6AcrZ pic.twitter.com/izEql3PwQi — NWS (@NWS) September 18, 2017 × Satellite image obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Maria on September 18, 2017. (AFP) ×

Maria now a major Category 3 hurricane: US weather forecaster

after-irma

After Irma, News on After Irma, stories on After Irma, articles on After Irma, After Irma stories at Wion, After Irma news, After Irma latest news

after irma

Maria now a major Category 3 hurricane: US weather forecaster