Hurricane Maria strengthens to Category 5 storm

ATLANTA — Hurricane Maria has strengthened to a category 5 storm on Monday with sustained winds of 160 mph.

Maria is the fourth major hurricane this year. It is a serious problem for the northeast Caribbean and more directly Puerto Rico. The area is just now cleaning up from Hurricane Irma, which slammed the U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbuda and other islands.

A hurricane warning is posted for many of the islands of the northeast Caribbean, including the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. In Barbuda and St. Maarten, both hard hit by Irma, there’s a tropical storm warning.

A hurricane watch is in effect for Puerto Rico.

Most of the latest forecast model guidance keeps this off the east coast for now but our team of Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologists be watching it carefully over the next several days.

North Georgia will stay pretty dry over the next couple of days with isolated to scattered showers returning to the forecast mid to late week.

Cox Media Group