Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017 as a Category 4 hurricane, becoming the worst natural disaster in Puerto Rico's recorded history. Maria caused island-wide destruction of the power grid, leaving the entire island without electricity.
Maria formed near the Lesser Antilles, struck Dominica as a Category 5, briefly weakened, then re-intensified to Category 4 before making landfall in Puerto Rico. The storm then tracked north through the Bahamas before turning northeast into the open Atlantic.
Maria killed an estimated 2,975 people in Puerto Rico — the majority from indirect causes related to the collapse of the island's infrastructure. The power grid was completely destroyed, leaving much of Puerto Rico without electricity for months. Total damage reached $91 billion.
Maria exposed the extreme vulnerability of Puerto Rico's aging infrastructure and the inadequacy of the federal disaster response. The storm led to significant changes in how FEMA approaches disaster response in U.S. territories and island communities.
Hurricane Maria reached a peak intensity of Category 5 with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph and a minimum central pressure of 908 mb. It made landfall as a Category 4.
Hurricane Maria made landfall at Yabucoa, Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017.
Hurricane Maria caused $91 billion in damage and resulted in 2975 deaths. Maria killed an estimated 2,975 people in Puerto Rico — the majority from indirect causes related to the collapse of the island's infrastructure. The power grid was completely destroyed, leaving much of Puerto Rico without electricity for months. Total damage reached $91 billion.
Yes. Hurricane Maria was so destructive that the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) retired its name. It will never be used again for an Atlantic hurricane.