...HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT... ...STORM SURGE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT... * LOCATIONS AFFECTED - Miami - Miami Beach - Key Biscayne - Perrine - Princeton * WIND - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Equivalent Strong Tropical Storm force wind - Peak Wind Forecast: 50-65 mph with gusts to 85 mph - Window for Tropical Storm force winds: until early Monday morning - CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: High - The wind threat has decreased from the previous assessment. - Remain braced against the reasonable threat for hurricane force wind of 74 to 110 mph of equivalent Category 1 to 2 intensity. - To be safe, efforts should fully focus on protecting life. Properties remain subject to extensive wind impacts. - Now is the time to urgently hide from the wind. Failure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury or loss of life. Remain sheltered until the hazardous wind subsides. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Unfolding - Potential impacts from the main wind event are unfolding. * STORM SURGE - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Life-threatening storm surge possible - Peak Storm Surge Inundation: The potential for 7-10 feet above ground somewhere within surge prone areas - Window of concern: early Sunday morning until early Monday afternoon - CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Extreme - The storm surge threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - Emergency plans should include a reasonable threat for extreme storm surge flooding greater than 9 feet above ground. - To be safe, aggressively prepare for the potential of devastating to catastrophic storm surge flooding impacts. Evacuation efforts should now be brought to completion. Evacuations must be complete before driving conditions become unsafe. - Life-threatening inundation is possible. Failure to heed evacuation orders may result in serious injury, significant loss of life, or immense human suffering. Leave if evacuation orders are given for your area. Consider voluntary evacuation if recommended. Poor decisions may result in being cut off or needlessly risk lives. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Devastating to Catastrophic - Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural damage to buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly compounded from considerable floating debris. Locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period. - Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. - Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible. - Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted onshore and stranded. * FLOODING RAIN - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Flood Watch is in effect - Peak Rainfall Amounts: Additional 12-18 inches, with locally higher amounts - CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: High - The flooding rain threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - Emergency considerations should include a threat of flooding. - Be safe and remain ready to protect against flooding rain impacts. - If flood related watches and warnings are in effect, heed recommended actions. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Extensive - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues. - Ditches and canals may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets, parking lots and underpasses become submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out. * TORNADO - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: - Situation is favorable for tornadoes - CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Moderate - The tornado threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - Emergency considerations should include a reasonable threat for tornadoes. - Be safe and remain ready to protect against tornado impacts. Stay informed. - Listen for tornado watches and warnings. If a tornado approaches, quickly move to the safest place within your shelter. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Significant - The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events. - Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures. - Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about. Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll.
The worst impacts from Irma are now expected to be across Southwest Florida and along west coast from Key West to Tampa. The storm came ashore last night along the northern coast of Cuba. The last information on Irma from the National Hurricane Center:
BULLETIN Hurricane Irma Advisory Number 42 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017 1100 AM EDT Sat Sep 09 2017 ...IRMA CONTINUES TO POUND THE NORTH COAST OF CUBA... ...FORECAST TO RESTRENGTHEN WHILE HEADING FOR SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE KEYS... SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...22.8N 79.8W ABOUT 90 MI...145 KM ESE OF VARADERO CUBA ABOUT 175 MI...285 KM SE OF KEY WEST FLORIDA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...125 MPH...205 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...941 MB...27.79 INCHES
The storm has weakened as it moved over Cuba last night. The storm is expected to intensity
a little before making landfall across the Keys early Sunday morning.
George Wright is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist for Wright Weather Consulting, LLC. Visit our website at WrightWeather.com. Follow George Wright on Twitter @gwweather.