MIAMI—Hurricane Irma is moving toward the lower U.S. as a Category 4 storm. At 8 a.m., the storm was located near 24.5 north and 81.5 west, just below the Lower Florida Keys. The storm is moving at 8 mph, with an expected increase in speed, according to the U.S.’s National Hurricane Center.
Forecasters expect the storm to move over the keys tonight and move through northern Florida and southwestern Georgia on Monday. The maximum sustained winds are near 130mph (215km/h), with higher guests. Forecasters expect it to weaken.
As a Category 5 hurricane, Irma slammed St. Maarten, damaging infrastructure and taking lives as it crossed the Leeward Islands late last week. The storm will have winds extending outward up to
80 miles (130 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 220
miles (350 km). “A wind gust to 89 mph (143 km/h) was recently measured,” the Key West NHC Forecast Office reported. “Sustained winds of 46 mph (74 km/h) with a gust to 72 mph (117 km/h) was recently reported at Tamiami Airport in West Kendall, Florida.”
Forecasters estimate its minimum central pressure is 929 mb (27.43 inches).
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/69263-centre-of-irma-to-make-landfall-in-lower-florida
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