Hurricane Maria now a Cat. 5

[Teresa_Rae]

Pray, pray, pray, folks...

I just cannot believe that this is happening again.

[chicagoans]

I'm very scared and sad for everyone there. I know some people evacuated to St. Croix after Irma, and it now looks like Maria will hit St. Croix hard.

I've been thinking a lot about some folks I met who run a sail charter and live aboard their boat. They may have lost their home and their business all at once.

Yes, praying hard.

[RicksFormula]

from where it is now, if it stays on the WNW course thru the evening hours, it would be set up to pass around 60 miles south of St John over night. The hurricane force winds currently extend about 40 miles out in all directions from the center (80-85 mile swath) so with some luck, St John will be in the tropical storm winds. Hoping it wobbles more to the west at this point to save St. Croix from a near direct hit. Puerto Rico is just too big to miss at this point without a miracle.

[GidgetPicklebrain]

Meanwhile, all non-essential personnel have been evacuated to either St.Croix or Puerto Rico - out of the frying pan, into the fire.

[Teresa_Rae]

The fact that Maria will hit STJ when it's dark makes it even scarier

[Teresa_Rae]

The fact that Maria will hit STJ when it's dark makes it even scarier

[Anthony]

If there is any good news tonight it is that the eye or Maria seems to be staying just south of St. Croix so far. Still not looking good for Vieques though and of course Puerto Rico. Looks like the St. Croix webcams went down a couple of hours ago.

[Teresa_Rae]

There are pictures of the Mister B partially submerged and the Roanoke run aground