Maria rages toward storm-battered Caribbean

Storm-weary Caribbean residents are bracing for yet another major hurricane as Maria bears down on the Leeward Islands. Hurricane Maria reached Category 3 strength Monday morning. The U.S. National Weather Service issued hurricane warnings for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Martinique, and St. Lucia. Antigua and Barbuda, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten are under a tropical storm warning. Forecasters say Maria could make landfall Wednesday in Puerto Rico, possibly as a Category 4 hurricane. “This storm promises to be catastrophic for our island,” said forecaster Ernesto Morales. “All of Puerto Rico will experience hurricane force winds.” Much of the Caribbean continues to struggle with power outages and widespread destruction following hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Puerto Rico escaped major damage from the earlier storms, but officials fear Maria won’t be so lenient. The United Nations on Sunday allocated $10 million in relief funds for the Caribbean, noting many countries remain in desperate need of basic services.