<P> The hurricane made its closest approach to St. Croix around 05 : 00 UTC on September 20 , passing within 20 mi ( 30 km ) of the island ; the storm 's outer eyewall lashed the island while the more violent inner eye remained offshore . Hours later , around 08 : 00 UTC , the outer eyewall struck Vieques , an island off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico . By this time , the outer eye became dominant as the inner one decayed , and the eyewall replacement cycle caused Maria to weaken to Category 4 strength . Maria made landfall just south of Yabucoa , Puerto Rico , around 10 : 15 UTC with sustained winds of 155 mph ( 250 km / h ) , making it the strongest to hit the island since the 1928 San Felipe Segundo hurricane . Maria maintained a general west - northwest course across Puerto Rico , emerging over the Atlantic Ocean shortly before 18 : 00 UTC . Interaction with the mountainous terrain resulted in substantial weakening ; sustained winds fell to 110 mph ( 175 km / h ) and the central pressure rose to 957 mbars ( hPa ; 28.26 inHg ) . With favorable environmental conditions , Maria steadily reorganized as it moved away from Puerto Rico . A large eye , 45 mi ( 75 km ) wide , developed with deep convection blossoming around it . Early on September 21 , the system regained Category 3 intensity . </P>
<P> The hurricane made its closest approach to St. Croix around 05 : 00 UTC on September 20 , passing within 20 mi ( 30 km ) of the island ; the storm 's outer eyewall lashed the island while the more violent inner eye remained offshore . Hours later , around 08 : 00 UTC , the outer eyewall struck Vieques , an island off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico . By this time , the outer eye became dominant as the inner one decayed , and the eyewall replacement cycle caused Maria to weaken to Category 4 strength . Maria made landfall just south of Yabucoa , Puerto Rico , around 10 : 15 UTC with sustained winds of 155 mph ( 250 km / h ) , making it the strongest to hit the island since the 1928 San Felipe Segundo hurricane . Maria maintained a general west - northwest course across Puerto Rico , emerging over the Atlantic Ocean shortly before 18 : 00 UTC . Interaction with the mountainous terrain resulted in substantial weakening ; sustained winds fell to 110 mph ( 175 km / h ) and the central pressure rose to 957 mbars ( hPa ; 28.26 inHg ) . With favorable environmental conditions , Maria steadily reorganized as it moved away from Puerto Rico . A large eye , 45 mi ( 75 km ) wide , developed with deep convection blossoming around it . Early on September 21 , the system regained Category 3 intensity . </P>
when did hurricane maria make landfall in puerto rico
when did hurricane maria make landfall in puerto rico
September 20
September 20