“Hurricane Maria, making its first landfall as a Category 5 storm, has blasted Dominica with “widespread devastation,” according to the prime minister of the Caribbean island nation.
“With the US territory of Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands now in its path, Maria’s powerful punch diminished slightly to Category 4 after it hit Dominica Monday night, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
“The National Weather Service said Tuesday morning that data from an Air Force “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft flying over the storm indicated Maria had reintensified to Category 5 status, with estimated maximum sustained winds of 160 mph.
“It was moving west-northwest at 9 mph, with that track expected to continue through Wednesday.”
Read more at CNN
