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AccuWeather First to Predict Life-Saving Impact Driven, Detailed Forecasts Ahead of Hurricane MariaAccuWeather provided clients and residents with 5-days of advanced notice for Category 4 Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, PR.
During the morning of Wednesday, September 20, 2017, Hurricane
Maria made landfall near Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, as a Category 4
storm with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph. This made Maria
the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in Puerto Rico in
85 years, causing catastrophic damage and a major humanitarian
crisis in Puerto Rico.
While Maria brought 2 – 3 feet of rain to many locations
throughout the island accompanied by a strong storm surge that
caused extensive flooding, the greatest impacts were in the form
of damaging wind gusts in excess of 115 mph. Many observation
stations failed before the worst of Maria hit the area and therefore,
it is difficult to ascertain just how strong observed winds were
across the island.
Ahead of this event, AccuWeather and AccuWeather Enterprise
SolutionsTM expert meteorologists issued timely, impact-driven,
detailed forecasts to clients and the general public warning of
the severity of the event that would unfold. These forecasts with
Superior AccuracyTM were issued prior to that of any other
weather service providers.
Friday, September 15 In a high impact forecast briefing, ADC meteorologists warn
of the potential for the budding storm to bring impacts to the
Caribbean Islands, while the NHC update has no mention of
potential impacts to Puerto Rico and does not cover the island
in their cone. AccuWeather warnings from later that day include
“hurricane conditions” and damaging winds with a peak wind gust
of 122 mph (196 km/h).
Sunday, September 17 In an article posted on AccuWeather.com, the threat of mudslides,
flooding, power outages, and structural damage is deemed likely
across Puerto Rico, while clients were warned of specific impacts
they would endure.
Monday, September 18 In an updated article posted on AccuWeather.com, the threat
of power outages and structural damage continues to be
emphasized and prioritized to the front of the article. Another
briefing warns of a “catastrophic threat to lives, property and
the economy....” and mention that Maria is expected to have
sustained winds of 130 mph (209 km/h) or more upon landfall.
Other weather providers merely mentioned “damaging winds.”
These devastating wind gusts resulted in complete destruction
of the power grid, leaving 100% of the island without power as well
as running water or sewage. Additionally, thousands of homes and
businesses were destroyed and telecommunications throughout
the island “collapsed,” according to one Puerto Rican administrator.
When a natural disaster threatens, minutes and hours count. Turn to AccuWeather,the World’s Weather Authority®, to protect your people, your property and your profits.
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Contact us today at: 814.235.8600 or [email protected] us at: AccuWeather.com/EnterpriseSolutions.