Powerful hurricane Irma heads for Caribbean islands

A visible satellite image of powerful, category 5, hurricane Irma, early Tuesday, September 5. (NOAA)

Fresh on the heels of hurricane Harvey, comes a powerful sibling, Irma. Hurricane Irma has reached category 5 status on Tuesday morning, with 180 mph (290km/h) winds. A NOAA-US Air Force hurricane hunter found a strengthening storm early this morning, poised to impact the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the British and US Virgin Islands. Irma is located 440 km east of Atigua, moving west at 14 mph (22km/h). Widespread warnings and watches are in effect across the Caribbean. A category 5 storm is capable of catastrophic damage. Irma is forecast to also impact Hispaniola, and Cuba before taking aim at the southern Bahamas.

Beyond the Caribbean, forecasters are looking at several guidance models that are leaning towards a Florida landfall of some sort by this coming weekend. Florida Sate Governor, Rick Scott, issued a state of emergency, effective on Monday. I imagine that within the next 24 to 36 hours, if Irma remains on her current path, that evacuations will be needed for at least the Florida Keys. It is early to speculate, but indications are Irma may impact not only Florida, but many sections of the southeast and eastern Seaboard.