Jose, Maria and Lee active in the Atlantic

Jose has defied forecasts and may bring tropical storm winds to Massachusetts in the next 36 hours. That's unlikely to cause much of an economic impact.

The big threat is Maria. It has strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane with winds at 120 mph.

A hurricane warning is in effect for:

  • Guadeloupe
  • Dominica
  • St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat
  • Martinique
  • St. Lucia
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • British Virgin Islands

The latest forecast from the NHC said "Additional rapid strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Maria is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane as it moves through the Leeward Islands and the northeastern Caribbean Sea."

The forecast track takes it more northward as it approaches the United States but there is a wide cone of uncertainty.