BREAKING: Hurricane Maria A Category 5 And Gaining Strength

HOUSTON, TX — Not the news that Houstonians or Texans are looking for, but Hurricane Maria just turned into a Category 5 storm in the Atlantic Ocean, and it continues to get stronger, meaner, more menacing and on a path toward the Caribbean islands on a cone of uncertainty. Maria sits northeast of Dominica and has moved vastly westward of fellow storm Lee, which remains a tropical depression hovering among nothingness in the Atlantic.

This has been one of the more active hurricane seasons in more than a decade, and Texans should be on full alert like Floridians. In late June, Tropical Storm Cindy sprayed the Southeast Texas Coast with rainfall but never gained hurricane status. Then on Aug. 25, Harvey slammed the Texas coastal bend as a Category 4 storm with 135 mph winds and leveling small fishing communities. Then it went eastward and sat over Houston for four days, dumping more than 50 inches of rain in several places, devastating the city.

Hurricane Irma then hit the state of Florida the next week, crippling the Sunshine State. Both Texas and Florida are still in recovery while Maria churns westward and possibly for a follow-up to either Harvey or Irma.

"The eye and intense inner core is expected to pass near Dominica during the next few hours," hurricane center forecasters wrote at 4 p.m. Monday."

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From Patch reporters in Florida, hurricane-force winds extend out 25 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds reaching some 125 miles, and Maria has prompted many watches and warnings to go up across the Caribbean.

"Hurricane warnings were in place for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Martinique, the U.S and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, among other interests in the region," according to Tampa Bay's Patch. Warnings mean that hurricane conditions are anticipated within the watch area. Hurricane watches were also in place for Saba, Anguilla, St. Martin and other interests in the region. Watches indicate the potential for hurricane conditions within the designated area."

Harvey developed into a tropical storm on Aug. 23 and crushed Texas two days later as a Category 4 storm. Much of the Lone Star State is still in recovery as is Florida from Irma.

Patch will continue to track Maria as the path becomes more clear.

Photo via National Hurricane Center