NEWS RELEASE

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.

*** ... MARIA WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL STORM ..... STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEE TO STRENGTHEN TODAY...***

At 4:00 a.m the center of Tropical Storm Maria was located near latitude 36.8 North, longitude 71.0 West or 755 km northwest of Bermuda.
Maria is moving toward the east-northeast near 8 mph (13 km/h), and the storm is expected to accelerate eastward through tonight.
A turn back toward the east-northeast with an additional increase in forward speed is expected on Friday. On the forecast track, Maria will
move away from the U.S. east coast and pass well to the south of Atlantic Canada during the next couple of days.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 110 km/h with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Tropical Storm Maria is not a threat to Jamaica.
The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor this system.

Meanwhile,

At 4:00 a.m the center of Hurricane Lee was located near latitude 32.5 North, longitude 57.2 West or 715 km east of Bermuda.
Lee is moving toward the north near 15 km/h. A faster motion toward the north-northeast or northeast is expected to begin later today.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 175 km/h with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Hurricane Lee is not a threat to Jamaica.
The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor this system.

JCS