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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Hurricane Maria grew into an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm Monday as it barreled toward a potentially devastating collision with islands in the eastern Caribbean, and forecasters warned the storm was likely to become even stronger.

The hurricane’s eye was expected to pass near Dominica later in the day on a path that would take it near many of the islands already wrecked by Hurricane Irma. The next step: a possible direct strike Wednesday on Puerto Rico as a Category 5.

“This storm promises to be catastrophic for our island,” said Ernesto Morales with the U.S. National Weather Service in San Juan. “All of Puerto Rico will experience hurricane-force winds.”

The U.S. territory imposed rationing of basic supplies including water, milk, baby formula, canned food, batteries and flashlights.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Maria had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph in late afternoon. It was centered about 35 miles northeast of Martinique and 45 miles east-southeast of Dominica, and was heading west-northwest at 9 mph.

The center said Maria likely would continue to gain strength for the next 24 hours or longer and could hit Category 5 status, with winds reaching 155 mph.

“Maria is developing the dreaded pinhole eye,” center officials said.

That’s a sign of an extremely strong hurricane likely to get even mightier, said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy. Just like when a spinning ice skater brings in his or her arms and rotates faster, a smaller, tighter eye shows the same physics, McNoldy said.

Maria’s eye shrank to a small 10 miles in diameter.

Hurricane warnings were posted for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat and Martinique. A tropical-storm warning was issued for Antigua and Barbuda, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, St. Lucia and Anguilla.

Forecasters said storm surge could raise water levels by 6 to 9 feet near the storm’s center.

Officials and islanders were bracing in Puerto Rico, which did not take a direct hit from Irma but still saw blackouts across much of the territory.

Farther north, long-lived Hurricane Jose continued to head northward, well away from the U.S. East Coast but causing dangerous surf and rip currents. It was not expected to make landfall, but a tropical storm warning was in effect for coastal areas in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Tropical storm watches were posted for parts of New York’s Long Island and Connecticut.

Jose was centered about 250 miles east of Cape Hatteras, N.C., and was moving north at 10 mph with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.

Men remove boats from the water ahead of Hurricane Maria on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe early Monday. Maria grew into a Category 4 storm as it barreled toward a potentially devastating collision with islands in the eastern Caribbean. (AP Photo)
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_maria-1.jpg.optimal.jpgMen remove boats from the water ahead of Hurricane Maria on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe early Monday. Maria grew into a Category 4 storm as it barreled toward a potentially devastating collision with islands in the eastern Caribbean. (AP Photo)

Associated Press