Maria: Tropical Storm Conditions to Hit North Carolina Later Today

Tropical storm conditions are expected in parts of North Carolina later today as Hurricane Maria continues to move northward, while remaining off the coast of the United States.

According to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Maria is about 190 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, making it a category 1 hurricane. The storm is expected to continue moving north, passing the east coast of North Carolina during the next couple of days and weakening to become a tropical storm within the next day or so.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for an area from Bogue Inlet to the North Carolina / Virginia border and Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. A storm surge watch is in effect for an area ranging from Cape Lookout to Duck.

While no flight waivers for North Carolina airports have been issued yet, a number of waivers as a result of Hurricane Maria are still in effect for the Caribbean:

American Airlines customers traveling through Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos through November 30 can rebook through December 31. Customers flying through St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands through April 2, 2018, can rebook through September 30, 2018. Customers flying through St. Maarten through August 31, 2018, can rebook through September 30, 2018. Customers flying through San Juan through November 30 can rebook through March 31, 2018, and customers traveling through Antigua and Nassau in the Bahamas through September 30 can rebook through November 15. Customers flying through other affected Caribbean airports through September 30 can rebook through October 7.

United Airlines will waive change fees and any differences in fares for customers flying through affected airports through September 30, with rebooked travel to take place through October 7 between the same city pair. For rebooked travel after October 7, or for a change in departure or destination city, United will waive the change fee but a difference in fare may apply.

Customers flying Delta through the Dominican Republic through September 30 can rebook through October 7, with the new ticket to be reissued on or before that date.

Southwest Airlines reports that, even though limited operations have resumed at San Juans Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in Puerto Rico, its flights to the airport remain shut down. Customers flying through October 15 can rebook in the original class of service or travel standby within 14 days of their original date of travel between the same city pair.

Customers flying JetBlue through September 26 can rebook through October 7.

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