ZCZC MIATCUAT5 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM Hurricane Maria Tropical Cyclone Update NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL152017 745 PM AST Mon Sep 18 2017 ...HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT FIND MARIA AS CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE... Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft data indicate Hurricane Maria has intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with maximum winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) with higher gusts. A special advisory will be issued at 800 PM AST (0000 UTC) in lieu of the scheduled intermediate advisory for Maria. SUMMARY OF 745 PM AST...2345 UTC...INFORMATION --------------------------------------------------- LOCATION...15.3N 61.1W ABOUT 15 MI...25 KM ESE OF DOMINICA ABOUT 40 MI...70 KM N OF MARTINIQUE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...160 MPH...260 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...929 MB...27.43 INCHES $$ Forecaster Brown/Blake NNNN