Hurricane Maria is forecast to rapidly strengthen over the next two days as it takes aim at Caribbean islands devastated by Hurricane Irma just days ago.
The storm is expected to become a major hurricane before it hits the Leeward Islands over the next few days, intensifying to a Category 4 hurricane in 48 hours.
As of Monday at 2 a.m. ET, Maria was about 90 miles (145 kilometers) north-northeast of Barbados and about 170 miles (270 kilometers) east-southeast of Dominica, the center said. The storm has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 90 mph, and is forecast to continue moving toward the eastern Caribbean at 13 mph.
"Maria continues to strengthen and is expected to be at major hurricane intensity when it affects portions of the Leeward Islands over the next few days, bringing dangerous wind, storm surge and rainfall hazards,"
