National Hurricane Center issues urgent 5.00 pm Update with changes for Hurricane Irma

This message is of top importance to tourists and residents in Southern Florida and Caribbean Islands. The National Hurricane Center released its latest statement (number 39) at 5.00pm EST (21.00UTC).

Currently, the location of Hurricane Irma is 22.1N 76.5 about 195 Miles East of Caibarien, Cuba, 345 miles away from Miami Florida.

Maximum sustained winds are 155 mph, present movement W or 280 degrees at 12 mph
Minimum pressure is 925 mb or 27.32 inches.

The Hurricane Warning has been extended northward for east coast of Florida to Sebastian Inlet, and along the west coast of the peninsula northward to Anna Maria Island.

The Hurricane Watch has been extended northward along the west coast of Florida to Suwannee River.

A Storm Surge Watch has been issued north of Venice to the AncloteRiver, including Tampa Bay, and from Ponce Inlet to the Flagler/ Volusia County Line.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…

* Sebastian Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Venice

* Florida Keys

 

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…

* North of Sebastian Inlet to the Flagler/Volusia County line

* North of Venice to Anclote River

* Tampa Bay

 

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…

* Sebastian Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Anna

Maria Island

* Florida Keys

* Lake Okeechobee

* Florida Bay

* Southeastern Bahamas

* Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, and

Villa Clara

* Central Bahamas

* Northwestern Bahamas

 

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…

* North of Sebastian Inlet to the Flagler/Volusia County Line

* North of Anna Maria Island to the Suwannee River

* Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, Las Tunas and Matanzas

 

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…

* Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas

 

At 5.00 pm EST the storm was located near latitude 22.1 North, longitude 76.5 West. Irma is moving toward the west near 12 mph (19 km/h), and a turn toward the northwest is expected by late Saturday.  On the forecast track, the eye of

Irma should continue to move near the north coast of Cuba and the central Bahamas tonight and Saturday, and be near the Florida Keys and the southern Florida Peninsula Sunday morning.

Maximum sustained winds are near 155 mph (250 km/h) with higher gusts.  Irma is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Some fluctuations in intensity are likely to continue during the next day or two, and Irma is expected to remain a powerful category 4 hurricane as it approaches Florida.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 925 mb (27.32 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

STORM SURGE:  The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.  The water is expected to reach the following HEIGHTS ABOVE GROUND if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

SW Florida from Captiva to Cape Sable…8 to 12 ft

Cape Sable to Boca Raton including the Florida Key…5 to 10 ft

Venice to Captiva…5 to 8 ft

Anclote River to Venice including Tampa Bay…3 to 5 ft

Boca Raton to Flagler/Volusia County line…3 to 6 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.  Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.  For information specific to your area, please seeproducts issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and large breaking waves will raise water levels ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS by the following amounts within the hurricane warning area near and to the north of the center of Irma.  Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Southeastern and central Bahamas…15 to 20 ft

Northwestern Bahamas…5 to 10 ft

Northern coast of Cuba in the warning area…5 to 10 ft

WIND:  Hurricane conditions are still occurring in portions of the southeastern and Central Bahamas.  Hurricane conditions are expected to continue within the hurricane warning area along the north coast of Cuba through Saturday. Hurricane conditions are expected in the northwestern Bahamas tonight and Saturday, and in portions of southern and central Florida and the Florida Keys Saturday night or early Sunday.

Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area in central and north Florida by Sunday, with tropical storm conditions possible by late Saturday.

RAINFALL: Irma is expected to produce the following rain accumulations through Tuesday night:

Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Turks and Caicos…additional 1 to 3 inches.

Southern Bahamas and northern Cuba…10 to 15 inches, isolated 20 inches.

Southern Cuba…4 to 8 inches, isolated 12 inches.

Jamaica…1 to 2 inches.

The Florida Keys, much of the Florida peninsula, and southeast

Georgia…8 to 15 inches, isolated 20 inches.

Western and Northern Florida peninsula from Tampa northward…4 to 8 inches, isolated 12 inches.

Rest of Eastern Georgia, western South Carolina, and Western North

Carolina…4 to 7 inches.

Western Georgia, eastern and northern Alabama, and southern

Tennessee…2 to 5 inches.

In all areas this rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods and, in some areas, mudslides.

TORNADOES: A few tornadoes will be possible beginning Saturday morning across south Florida.

SURF:  Swells generated by Irma are affecting the southeastern

Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the northern coast of the

Dominican Republic, and should start affecting portions of the southeast coast of the United States tonight. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.