Hurricane Maria rages on

PUERTO RICO - After devastating the US territory of Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria is tracking toward the Turks and Caicos Islands, and beyond that, the stretched out island chain of the Bahamas.

As the storm continues to inch towards the Turks and Caicos, also known as TCI, it’s already lashing the small archipelago with winds of over 124 mph (200 kmh). It’s expected to pass the islands with about 50 miles (80 kilometers) to spare, still close enough to dump around 40 inches (100 centimeters) of rain on the islands.

The “TCI are already feeling the impact” of the storm, although it looks like it won’t make landfall, CNN meteorologist Karen Maginnis said. Maginnis says that the islands, along with the Bahamas, should expect continued heavy downpours, as well as a potential storm surge of around nine to 13 feet (3 to 4 meters). Maria has been downgraded from the Category 5 storm which left the island nation of Dominica, along with Puerto Rico, inundated and completely without power. It’s now a Category 3 storm and Hurricane Warnings have been issued for TCI, the Bahamas and the northeastern shore of the Dominican Republic.

The giant storm’s deadly toll is beginning to mount. At least 14 are confirmed dead on Dominica, and dozens more are missing. Eight people, including a family of four, drowned in the Puerto Rico city of Toa Baja, according to local media. Over the coming days, the storm is forecast to pitch out over the open waters of the Atlantic, traveling north but it’s unlikely to have much effect on the US’ eastern coast.

(CNN.COM)