The newest National Weather Service forecast predicts catastrophic track for Hurricane Irma so Florida and Georgia have issued new evacuation orders for certain areas of those states.
This is an outdated post, but you can follow our up-to-the-minute Irma coverage HERE.
The national weather service is currently forecasting landfall in southeastern Florida just south of Miami – the worst possible landfall for Florida’s most populous city and the storm may arrive with borderline category five winds.
*next update at 2am EDT – check our Irma update page for new information
The latest satellite imagery shows the clearly defined eyewall and strong outflow expected from a storm of this intensity.
Irma is a strong category five storm but is expected to weaken to a maximum intensity category four hurricane or low-end category five with 150 to 160 mph winds over the next 2-3 days hours as it skirts Cuba and the Bahamas before making landfall in Florida.
Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
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).
Computer models are closing in on an east Florida solution. Irma is going to, in one way or antoher, be catastrophic for the Sunshine State.
Early cycle model consensus forecasts that Irma will ride up the center of the Florida peninsula – a nightmare scenario for the state.
The late cycle model consensus forecasts a path even more dangerous for Floridians as it puts the eye over Orlando and Jacksonville after a direct hit on Miami.
The intensity models are all over the place so Irma’s strength as she approaches Florida is in question.
The current U.S. portion of Irma’s track shows a glancing blow near Miami and a track straight up the peninsula and through Georgia.
Florida
The National Weather Service forecasts a direct hit to southeast Florida south of Miami.
Florida has declared a state of emergency and multiple areas have been ordered to evacuate immediately.
Floridians should start preparing now to either shelter-in-place or evacuate. If Irma tracks towards Florida, additional evacuations will likely be posted. Don’t wait until the last minute and please listen to local authorities for instructions.
Georgia
Georgia has declared a state of emergency. Gov. Nathan Deal issued a mandatory evacuation order Thursday for all areas east of I-95 and other parts of the state’s coast as Hurricane Irma barrels toward Florida and Georgia with potentially catastrophic force.
“I encourage all Georgians in our coastal areas that could be impacted by this storm to evacuate the area as soon as possible,” said Deal.
South Carolina
South Carolina has declared a state of emergency, no evacuation orders are in place.
Governor Henry McMaster said that residents should start preparations for Irma as if she were coming tomorrow.
“Now is the time to prepare,” McMaster warned during a news conference at the S.C. Emergency Management Division headquarters on Wednesday. “When it’s too late, it’s too late and that’s when we have a lot sadness.”
North Carolina
Gov. Roy Cooper has declared a state of emergency for North Carolina. No evacuations have been ordered.
Areas under storm surge watch
* Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita
Beach
* Florida Keys
Areas under Hurricane Warning
* Dominican Republic from Cabo Frances Viejo to the northern border
with Haiti
* Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le
Mole St. Nicholas
* Southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands
* Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, and
Villa Clara
* Central Bahamas
* Northwestern Bahamas
Areas under Hurricane Watch
* Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita
Beach
* Florida Keys
* Lake Okeechobee
* Florida Bay
* Cuban provinces of Guantanamo,Holguin, Las Tunas and Matanzas.
Areas under Tropical Storm Warning
* Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engano westward to the
southern border with Haiti
* Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince
* Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, Las Tunas.
Areas under Tropical Storm Watch
* None
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…
Jupiter Inlet to Bonita Beach, including Florida Keys…5 to 10 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 see products 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.
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected to continue within the hurricane warning area in the Dominican Republic and Haiti tonight. Hurricane conditions already affecting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Tropical storm and hurricane conditions are beginning in the southeastern Bahamas and will spread into the central Bahamas by tonight or early Friday. Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area along the north coast of Cuba late
Friday and Saturday. Hurricane conditions are expected in the northwestern Bahamas Friday night and Saturday.
Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area in Florida by Sunday, with tropical storm conditions possible by late Saturday.
RAINFALL: Irma is expected to produce the following rain accumulations through Saturday evening:
In all areas this rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
SURF: Swells generated by Irma are affecting the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 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 later today and tonight. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
INIT 08/0300Z 21.3N 72.4W 145 KT 165 MPH
12H 08/1200Z 21.8N 74.4W 145 KT 165 MPH – 103 Miles NE of Banes, Cuba
24H 09/0000Z 22.3N 76.7W 140 KT 160 MPH – 114 miles SE of The Bahamas
36H 09/1200Z 22.9N 78.6W 135 KT 155 MPH – 222 miles SE of Miami, FL
48H 10/0000Z 23.7N 79.9W 135 KT 155 MPH – 142 miles from Miami, FL
57H 10/0900Z —- Landfall Florida —–
72H 11/0000Z 27.2N 81.1W 100 KT 115 MPH…INLAND – 44 miles west of Port St. Lucie
96H 12/0000Z 32.0N 83.5W 50 KT 60 MPH…INLAND – 57 miles south of Macon, GA
120H 13/0000Z 35.5N 86.5W 30 KT 35 MPH…INLAND – 49 miles SSW of Nashville, TN
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