WILMINGTON — Hurricane Maria is still hundreds of miles away from the Cape Fear Region after bringing rain and destruction to Puerto Rico. And while the track of the storm has it heading back into the Atlantic, the effects of the storm will still be seen in the area.
Hurricane Maria, which was upgraded to a category five storm earlier this week is now a category three, with sustained winds of 115 miles per hour.
“Impacts from Maria will be purely maritime for us heading into the weekend. The storm is expected to produce large swells which will result in hazardous surf conditions, including strong rip currents and large breakers,” Steve Pfaff, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Wilmington said.
These large swells will produce hazards for swimmers, surfers and boaters, especially near inlets.
“Conditions near inlet entrances could be particularly rough as well, especially during the falling tide, where the current interacts with the incoming swells and causes steep waves which could easily flip a boat over,” Pfaff said.
“Impacts from Maria will be purely maritime for us heading into the weekend.”
The 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season has been particularly active, and destructive with Hurricanes Harvey and Irma causing destruction across parts of the country.
“The season has been very active for a few reasons: first the water across the Atlantic basin has been warmer than normal. The added heat content to the ocean has allowed for significant fuel for the storms to utilize. Second, the El Nino never formed and we stayed in a Neutral phase which creates a situation with little wind shear aloft across the basin. Weak shear allows the storms to vent efficiently enabling the pressure to drop and the storms to intensify. Lastly, we had a quick start to the season. The early storms will add to the busy peak season that we are currently experiencing,” Pfaff said.
The current track for Hurricane Maria has the storm off the North Carolina coast early morning Tuesday, but as with any weather forecasting, conditions can change without warning rapidly.
Michael Praats can be contacted at Michael.p@localvoicemedia.com
