Hurricane Jose Churns Atlantic, Storm Maria Picks Up Strength

As Hurricane Jose churned across the warm Gulf Stream off the coast of North Carolina, Tropical Storm Maria was expected to cross the hurricane threshold later on Sunday, September 17, menacing the Caribbean with its third storm in as many weeks.

Forecasters said Jose would likely stay far enough off the Outer Banks to avoid tropical-storm-force winds, but that surf would be treacherous along the East Coast. Jose has a better chance of affecting the coast directly midweek.

Maria, on the other hand, is strengthening and heading toward many of the same islands already devastated by Irma and Jose. Forecasters warned this storm could hammer the British and US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as a major hurricane by midweek.

Jose is the first storm seen in this video, followed by Maria and a wider view showing both storms and Tropical Storm Lee, which is expected to dissipate well before it reaches land. Credit: CIRA/RAMMB/NOAA via Storyful