Puerto Rico had a nasty wake-up call from Hurricane Maria this morning.
The eyewall of Hurricane Maria, which is now a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph, moved onshore near the southeast coastal city of Yabucoa around 6:15 a.m.—and the hurricane could not be a more direct hit, said meteorologists. It is the strongest hurricane to directly hit Puerto Rico since 1932, with life-threatening winds, rain, and storm surge. Earlier, residents were told to evacuate or else “you’re going to die.”
It will be a while before television cameras show the final damage and impact caused by Hurricane Maria, but social media accounts are already showing some terrifying images of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, including roofs peeling off in San Juan and floodwaters rushing through streets.
You couldn't hit Puerto Rico more squarely. #Maria is centered directly on top of the island. First Category 4 there since 1932. Pic.twitter.com/iB08f34hhw
— Eric Fisher (@ericfisher) September 20, 2017
Eyewall tearing up the hotel in #Fajardo#HurricaneMariapic.twitter.com/UGVKfQi1Cl
— Mike Theiss (@MikeTheiss) September 20, 2017
Video taken moments ago in #SanJuan – as #MariaPR ravages through #PuertoRico, help us recover by donating to https://t.co/xSFEX78SdWpic.twitter.com/csH0CKXySK
— PRFAA (@PRFAA) September 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/NewYork_SPIN/status/910509012747214848
Roofs are peeling off. You can hear the wind. This is in the metropolitan area of Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico. #Maria#HurricaneMariapic.twitter.com/QNu5fS7DnD
— Rose (@rosalinetweets) September 20, 2017
La fuerza de #HurricaneMaria sobre #PuertoRico, vientos inutilizaron radar del tiempo alla #Hurricane#Maria#20Sep video @borikuaridepic.twitter.com/gWsKeW7RlX
— Daniel Benítez (@danielbnews) September 20, 2017
Flooding is already occurring on the island and more is expected, say meteorologists. River gauges across the country are spiking at tremendous levels—and the rain is nowhere near finished. (Flooding is much more dangerous than a hurricane’s winds.)
[VIDEO] Río Guayama se sale de su cause por lluvias de #HuracanMariapic.twitter.com/fqgWrPJevK
— Radio Isla 1320 (@radioislatv) September 20, 2017
From my uncle. Same area, downstairs. This is in the metropolitan area of Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico. #Maria#HurricaneMariapic.twitter.com/fKXS424YjA
— Rose (@rosalinetweets) September 20, 2017
Maria’s current projected path indicates the storm will bypass the eastern seaboard of the U.S. Mainland. It’s still a tremendously powerful hurricane, though. Dominica’s governor said it left “mind boggling” damage on that Caribbean island. As of Wednesday morning, nine people had died on Dominica because of the storm.
Hurricane experts note that while the mountains of Puerto Rico will temper the storm somewhat, Maria is expected to restrengthen after passing the island due to warm sea surface temperatures.