Tracking map of Hurricane Maria Hurricane Maria's path across the Caribbean in September 2017, with colors indicating its classification on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. (more) Hurricane Maria storm [2017] Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/event/Hurricane-Maria Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is a former Wayne State University linguistics instructor. Laura Payne Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep 5, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What were the main impacts of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria caused extensive damage to buildings and homes, severe flooding, and a prolonged power blackout. The agricultural sector was severely affected, with 80 percent of the islandu2019s crop value destroyed. The official death toll was 2,975, including both direct and indirect deaths." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How did Hurricane Maria affect Dominica? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In Dominica most structures were damaged or destroyed, and essential services were knocked out. The agricultural sector was decimated, with over 80 percent of the banana and plantain crops wiped out. Maria caused 31 direct deaths and left 34 people unaccounted for." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What was the path of Hurricane Maria? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Hurricane Maria began near the Cape Verde islands, formed a tropical depression on September 16, 2017, became a hurricane on September 17, and made landfall in Dominica on September 19. It then moved toward Puerto Rico, making landfall on September 20, before moving northward and dissipating by October 2." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Why was the name Maria retired from the hurricane name list? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The World Meteorological Organization retired the name Maria because of the hurricaneu2019s catastrophic effect on Puerto Rico and its population; it was deemed inappropriate for future use. The name was replaced with Margot for the 2023 season. Names are retired when a storm is so deadly or costly that their reuse could be interpreted as insensitive." } } ] } Top Questions What were the main impacts of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico? In Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria caused extensive damage to buildings and homes, severe flooding, and a prolonged power blackout. The agricultural sector was severely affected, with 80 percent of the island’s crop value destroyed. The official death toll was 2,975, including both direct and indirect deaths.

　　How did Hurricane Maria affect Dominica? In Dominica most structures were damaged or destroyed, and essential services were knocked out. The agricultural sector was decimated, with over 80 percent of the banana and plantain crops wiped out. Maria caused 31 direct deaths and left 34 people unaccounted for.

　　What was the path of Hurricane Maria? Hurricane Maria began near the Cape Verde islands, formed a tropical depression on September 16, 2017, became a hurricane on September 17, and made landfall in Dominica on September 19. It then moved toward Puerto Rico, making landfall on September 20, before moving northward and dissipating by October 2.

　　Why was the name Maria retired from the hurricane name list? The World Meteorological Organization retired the name Maria because of the hurricane’s catastrophic effect on Puerto Rico and its population; it was deemed inappropriate for future use. The name was replaced with Margot for the 2023 season. Names are retired when a storm is so deadly or costly that their reuse could be interpreted as insensitive.

　　Hurricane Maria, an immensely powerful and destructive tropical cyclone that ravaged the island country of Dominica and severely devastated the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico in late September 2017. Hurricane Maria’s accompanying wind gusts, excessive rainfall, storm surges, and waves also inflicted serious damage on islands in Guadeloupe and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Hurricane Maria is the second deadliest hurricane in U.S. history, with an official estimated death toll of 2,975 people in Puerto Rico alone (though a 2018 Harvard University study placed the number at approximately 4,645). It is also one of the costliest hurricanes in terms of property ...(100 of 1127 words)

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