Second Category 5 Hurricane in a Week in the Atlantic

Hurricane Maria smashes into Dominica records the second category 5 hurricane in a week in the Atlantic

Satellite imagery showing Hurricane Maria early Monday night as it tracks over the Leeward Islands. (Image/NOAA)

Caribbean Islands devastated just last week by colossus category 5 Hurricane Irma are now bracing themselves for the second category 5 hurricane in a week and is heading for Puerto Rico.
Hurricane Maria smashed into Dominica causing widespread damage according to officials.
Hurricane Maria suddenly strengthened to a "potentially catastrophic" category five storm, before making landfall on the Caribbean island.
Maria is following the same track as Hurricane Irma which devasted the many Caribbean Islands earlier this month.
With sustained winds of 250km/h (155mph) Maria is a category 4 hurricane but it is expected to strengthen again as it head's for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, the warm waters of the Caribbean are considered jet fuel for hurricanes.

NASA and NOAA satellites have provided data on Maria as it strengthened into a major Hurricane headed toward the Leeward Islands.
NASA's Aqua satellite provided an infrared look at Maria that showed cooling cloud top temperatures and NOAA's GOES satellite provided an animation of imagery that showed the storm developing and strengthening.
The GPM satellite found "Hot" towering clouds that indicated strengthening was occurring before Maria became a major hurricane.