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Hurricane Maria Moves Northward, Affecting East Coast

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Hurricane Maria continues to move slowly northward with large swells affecting much of the U.S. East coast.

As of 2 p.m., the Category 1 storm was about 300 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina with maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour.

Maria is moving toward the north near 7 mph, and this general motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected through Tuesday night.

On the forecast track, the center of Maria will move well east of the southeast coast of the United States during the next day or so.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Cape Lookout to Duck
* Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* North of Duck to the North Carolina/Virginia border
* North of Surf City to south of Cape Lookout

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Cape Lookout to Duck

Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is forecast during the next couple of days and Maria is forecast to become a tropical storm Tuesday night.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles, primarily to the east of center, and tropical- storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.  NOAA buoy 41002, located about 100 miles west-northwest of Maria's center, recently reported sustained winds of 45 mph and a gust to 60 mph.

The latest minimum central pressure reported by reconnaissance aircraft is 966 mb.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WIND:  Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area beginning Tuesday.  Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area beginning Tuesday.

STORM SURGE:  The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.  The water is expected to reach the following heights above ground if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Cape Lookout to Duck including the sound side of the Outer Banks...2 to 4 ft.

Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.  For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

RAINFALL:  Maria is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 1 to 2 inches over the Outer Banks of North Carolina through Wednesday.

SURF:  Swells generated by Maria are affecting portions of the coast of the southeastern United States and Bermuda and will be increasing along the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts today.

Swells also continue to affect Puerto Rico, the northern coast of Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas.  These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.  Please consult products from your local weather office for more information.

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