User:Jdorje/2005 Atlantic hurricane season/Hurricane Maria (2005)



Tropical Depression Fourteen formed from a tropical wave 1100 statute miles (1,770 km) east of the Leeward Islands on September 1, and strengthened to Tropical Storm Maria the next day. Early on September 4, Maria became the fifth hurricane of the season. On September 5, it briefly strengthened to Category 3 intensity, making it the fourth major hurricane of the season. It gradually weakened and dropped to tropical storm strength on September 8.

Advisories ceased on September 10 as Maria became extratropical mid-way between Cape Race and the Azores. It never threatened land as a hurricane, but Maria became a strong extratropical storm, and actually strengthened to hurricane strength once again while moving towards Iceland. Measurements taken of the storm on September 11 showed it had deepened dramatically to 970 mbar (typical of a Category 2 hurricane) - much stronger than the 989 mbar it had when the NHC issued their last advisory.

The remnants of Maria buffeted Iceland with gusty winds and heavy rains on September 13. Maria's extratropical remnants also triggered a landslide in Norway that killed one person. 


 * The NHC's archive on Hurricane Maria.