Hurricane Maria Forecast to Pose a Potentially Serious Threat to Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

Hurricane conditions are possible from the Lesser Antilles to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this week.

Maria could strengthen to a major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger) before reaching the Leeward Islands.

It's too soon to determine whether Maria will ever directly impact the United States, but it will be monitored closely.

Hurricane Maria continues to intensify and could pose a major threat to the Lesser Antilles, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this week, including some of the same areas that were hard-hit by Hurricane Irma.

Maria is currently located about 140 miles east-northeast of Barbados and is moving west-northwest at around 15 mph.

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