Effects of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
Hurricane Maria over Puerto Rico on September 20 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Duration | September 19–21, 2017 |
| Category 4 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 155 mph (250 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 920 mbar (hPa); 27.17 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 2,982 (estimated) |
| Damage | $90 billion (2017 USD) |
| Areas affected | Puerto Rico |
Part of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season | |
| History • Meteorological history Effects • Commons: Maria images | |
Between September 19–21, 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated the entire island of Puerto Rico and caused a major humanitarian crisis. Maria was the strongest storm to impact the island in nearly 90 years. Prior to reaching Puerto Rico, Maria reached the status of a Category 5 hurricane, before being downgraded to a high-end Category 4 hurricane by the time it made landfall on the island on September 20; bringing a large storm surge, very heavy rains, and wind gusts well above 100 mph (160 km/h). It flattened neighborhoods, crippled the island's power grid, and caused an estimated 2,982 fatalities and US$90 billion in damage.