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| Hurricane Maria to become major storm near Caribbean islands | Hurricane Maria to become major storm near Caribbean islands |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Maria is expected to become a dangerous major hurricane as it nears the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. | Maria is expected to become a dangerous major hurricane as it nears the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. |
| The category one hurricane will rapidly strengthen over the next 48 hours and will hit the islands late on Monday, the US National Hurricane Center says. | The category one hurricane will rapidly strengthen over the next 48 hours and will hit the islands late on Monday, the US National Hurricane Center says. |
| It is moving roughly along the same path as Irma, the hurricane that devastated the region this month. | It is moving roughly along the same path as Irma, the hurricane that devastated the region this month. |
| Hurricane warnings have been issued for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat and Martinique. | Hurricane warnings have been issued for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat and Martinique. |
| A hurricane watch is now in effect for the US and British Virgin Islands, St Martin, St Barts, Saba, St Eustatius and Anguilla. | A hurricane watch is now in effect for the US and British Virgin Islands, St Martin, St Barts, Saba, St Eustatius and Anguilla. |
| Some of these islands are still recovering after being hit by Irma - the category five hurricane which left at least 37 people dead and caused billions of dollars' worth of damage. | Some of these islands are still recovering after being hit by Irma - the category five hurricane which left at least 37 people dead and caused billions of dollars' worth of damage. |
| In its latest update at 03:00 GMT on Monday, the NHC says Maria has maximum sustained winds of 85mph (137 km/h). | In its latest update at 03:00 GMT on Monday, the NHC says Maria has maximum sustained winds of 85mph (137 km/h). |
| The eye of the storm is 140 miles north-east of Barbados, and Maria is moving west-northwest at about 13mph. | The eye of the storm is 140 miles north-east of Barbados, and Maria is moving west-northwest at about 13mph. |
| "On the forecast track, the centre of Maria will move across the Leeward Islands late Monday and Monday night and then over the extreme north-eastern Caribbean Sea Tuesday and Tuesday night," the NHC says. | "On the forecast track, the centre of Maria will move across the Leeward Islands late Monday and Monday night and then over the extreme north-eastern Caribbean Sea Tuesday and Tuesday night," the NHC says. |
| The most southerly point of the Leeward Islands - where Maria will first strike - include Antigua and Barbuda. The latter island was evacuated after being devastated by Irma. | The most southerly point of the Leeward Islands - where Maria will first strike - include Antigua and Barbuda. The latter island was evacuated after being devastated by Irma. |
| It says that "a dangerous storm surge accompanied by large and destructive waves will raise water levels by as much as 5-7ft (1.5-2.1m) above normal tide levels near where the centre of Maria moves across the Leeward Islands". | It says that "a dangerous storm surge accompanied by large and destructive waves will raise water levels by as much as 5-7ft (1.5-2.1m) above normal tide levels near where the centre of Maria moves across the Leeward Islands". |
| The NHC also forecasts a maximum potential rainfall of 20in (51cm) across the central and southern Leeward Islands - including Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands - through to Wednesday night. | The NHC also forecasts a maximum potential rainfall of 20in (51cm) across the central and southern Leeward Islands - including Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands - through to Wednesday night. |
| "Rainfall on all of these islands could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," it warned. | "Rainfall on all of these islands could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," it warned. |
| The destruction of Barbuda | The destruction of Barbuda |
| Drone footage of Saint-Martin after Irma | Drone footage of Saint-Martin after Irma |
| Earlier this month, Irma left more than two-thirds of homes on the Dutch side of the island of St Martin (known as Sint Maarten) uninhabitable, with no electricity, gas or drinking water. | Earlier this month, Irma left more than two-thirds of homes on the Dutch side of the island of St Martin (known as Sint Maarten) uninhabitable, with no electricity, gas or drinking water. |
| The French government has said its side of St Martin - known as Saint-Martin - sustained about €1.2bn ($1.44bn; £1.1bn) in damage, with nine deaths across Saint-Martin and nearby St Barts. | The French government has said its side of St Martin - known as Saint-Martin - sustained about €1.2bn ($1.44bn; £1.1bn) in damage, with nine deaths across Saint-Martin and nearby St Barts. |
| On the British Virgin Islands, entire neighbourhoods were flattened. | On the British Virgin Islands, entire neighbourhoods were flattened. |
| After a visit to the area, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described the damage as something "you see in images of from the First World War". | After a visit to the area, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described the damage as something "you see in images of from the First World War". |
| In pictures: Irma devastates British Virgin Islands | In pictures: Irma devastates British Virgin Islands |
| Virgin boss Richard Branson, who has a home in the Virgin Islands, has been tweeting ahead of the storm's predicted arrival, warning people to stay safe. | Virgin boss Richard Branson, who has a home in the Virgin Islands, has been tweeting ahead of the storm's predicted arrival, warning people to stay safe. |
| Irma also hit the US, with 11 deaths being linked to the hurricane. Nearly 6.9 million homes were left without power in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama. | Irma also hit the US, with 11 deaths being linked to the hurricane. Nearly 6.9 million homes were left without power in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama. |
| A second hurricane, Jose, is also active in the Atlantic, with maximum sustained winds of 90mph. | A second hurricane, Jose, is also active in the Atlantic, with maximum sustained winds of 90mph. |
| The centre of the storm was about 335 miles south-east of Cape Hatteras in North Carolina, the NHC said in its advisory at 21:00 GMT on Sunday. | The centre of the storm was about 335 miles south-east of Cape Hatteras in North Carolina, the NHC said in its advisory at 21:00 GMT on Sunday. |
| Tropical storm watches have been issued for parts of the north-eastern US. | Tropical storm watches have been issued for parts of the north-eastern US. |
| Caribbean braces for major new hurricane | |
| Are you in an area that is braced for Hurricane Maria? If it's safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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