UNOSAT Tropical Cyclone MARIA-17: Population exposure analysis in Caribbean - 18 September 2017

Overview

After IRMA-17 a new hurricane called MARIA constitutes a potential threat to the areas previously affected by IRMA over 6-13 September. MARIA is expected to affect the Caribbean region and to potentially become a category 3 hurricane as it moves closer to Guadeloupe, Dominica, Puerto Rico and other islands in the region. Tropical cyclone MARIA continued moving west-northwest, strengthening. On 18 September at 6.00 UTC, its centre was located 145 km from Barbados and 270 km from Dominica. It had maximum sustained wind speed of 150 km/h (category 1 hurricane). The centre of MARIA may move across the Leeward islands in the evening of 18 September, strengthening further. It may then reach the coast of Dominica as a category 2 hurricane, before moving toward Puerto Rico. Heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge could affect the Leeward Islands, Windward Islands and Puerto Rico on 18-20 September. As of 18 September at 8.00 UTC, a hurricane warning is in effect for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat and Martinique. A tropical storm warning is also in effect for Antigua and Barbuda, Saba and St. Eustatius and St. Lucia. Based on data of the predicted tropical cyclone path, wind speeds from JRC issued on 18 September 2017 at 09:00 UTC, and population data from WorldPop, UNITAR-UNOSAT conducted a population exposure analysis for the Caribbean.