Overview: Hurricane Irma continues to inch its way closer to the United States. Today, it will impact the Central Bahamas as a strong category 4 storm. It is headed for warmer water, so there is the potential it re-strengthens again before landfall in south Florida on Sunday.

Watches/Warnings: A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach and the Florida Keys. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for North of Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet and North of Bonita Beach to Venice, FL. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach, Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, Florida Bay, 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, and Northwestern Bahamas. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for North of Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet, North of Bonita Beach to Anna Maria Island, and Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, Las Tunas and Matanzas. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince and Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas.

Intensity: Irma has "weakened" to a strong category 4 storm with winds at 150 mph. Irma is forecasted to remain a category 4 up until landfall in South Florida. At this moment, the National Hurricane Center forecast states that Irma will have 150 mph at the time of landfall, but with very warm oceans we wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being a bit stronger that the current forecast.

Track (Short-Term): The certainty remains high the next few days in regards to where Hurricane Irma is headed. Today, it will then impact the central Bahamian islands where hurricane-force winds, catastrophic storm surge and heavy rain are expected. Cuba will also likely hurricane conditions late tonight into Saturday. Then, the effects of Irma will begin to be felt in South Florida on Saturday with tropical-storm-force winds and showers moving in. There will be a landfall in this region early Sunday morning. The question of when the northward turn happens is still there, but itdoesn’t matter as much with this storm because of how widespread the impacts with Irma will be because of the size of this massive storm. It is forecast to move up the entire Florida Peninsula through Monday, bringing hurricane-force-winds to much of the entire peninsula which will certainly cause widespread damage and a widespread loss of power to millions. We can’t stress enough how this is going to be an inland storm as well, not one only affecting the coast. All of the Florida Peninsula will get heavy rain and strong winds that can cause widespread power outages and structural damage. The FL Panhandle will receive little to no effects from Irma. The impacts will still be the worst along the coast due to a storm surge of 5 to 10 feet from Jupiter Inlet to Bonita Beach, including the Florida Keys. Bonita Beach to Venice and Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet can expect a 3 to 6 foot surge. All preparations in South Florida need to be rushed to completion today.

Irma is forecast to bring hurricane force winds to much of the FL peninsula out shown by the red shaded area.

Track (Long-Term):There is still some uncertainty early next week, but we think Irma will head into Georgia, still as a category 4 hurricane. Power outages are also likely in this state due to the strong winds and widespread trees. There will be an onshore flow along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts, so a storm surge is possible. It’s still early to say how much the water levels will rise at this time. Heavy rain is also a threat with some locations, especially in southeast Georgia, expected to pick up to a foot of rainfall. Mid-next week, the storm will considerably weaken and get sheared as it loses all the dynamics to hold together as it moves further inland.

Alert Levels: We have issued “High” Alert Levels for South, Central, and northeastern Florida. We have also issued Alert Levels for Georgia and the Carolinas. Please review our key below for recommended actions to take based on the alert level issued for your area.

Conclusion: Hurricane Irma is a catastrophic hurricane that you have to prepare for if you are in it’s path. Millions of people will be affected by this destructive storm. This will likely be one of the largest loss of power ever experienced as millions of residents will lose power for several days, if no longer. Unfortunately, it's likely to cause more damage in terms of dollars than Hurricane Andrew, Charley and Wilma.

We will have another update on Hurricane Irma as conditions warrant. Thanks for using our service.

-Jackson Dill, Hurricane Tracker App Team

Overview: Hurricane Irma made landfall on several of the northeastern Caribbean Islands Wednesday, causing catastrophic devastation. Irma will continue tracking to the west-northwest during the next 2 days bringing hurricane conditions to the Turks/Caicos & the Bahamas. This weekend Irma is forecasted to make a northerly turn. When that turn occurs will determine what exact impacts Irma will have on Florida and the rest of the southeast United States. Hurricane watches are expected to be issued for the FL Keys & portions of the Florida peninsula later this morning. TAKE THIS HURRICANE SERIOUSLY IF YOU ARE ALONG THE PATH.

Watches/Warnings: A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti, Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le Mole St. Nicholas, Southeastern Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Central Bahamas, and Northwestern Bahamas. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo province. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for 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, Cuba provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas.

Intensity: Irma has now had winds of at least 180 mph for 42 hours straight (as of 5AM Thursday). That breaks the previous record that Hurricane Allen broke in 1980 of 18 hours. It is forecast to remain as a category 5 hurricane through at least Friday. If she makes landfall on South Florida, then the potential is there that it does so as a category 5 storm. At this moment, the National Hurricane Center forecast has a 150 mph category 4 hurricane possibly make landfall in that region, but with very warm oceans we wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being stronger than the current forecast.

Track (Short-Term): The certainty remains high the next couple days in regards to where Hurricane Irma is headed. Today, the Dominican Republic and Haiti can expect tropical-storm-force winds and showers as the storm passes less than 100 miles to the north. It will continue to move west-northwest, getting very close, if not make landfall on Turks and Caicos tonight as a category 5 storm. It will then impact the southern Bahamian islands where hurricane-force winds and heavy rain are expected on Friday and Friday night. Cuba will also likely get some of the outer rainbands with gusty winds Friday into Saturday.

Wind band forecast based off the 5AM NHC advisory.

The forecasted wind field at landfall based on the 5AM NHC track shows potentially catastrophic winds > than 130 mph in the Miami area. Hurricane force winds will likely effect much of south FL. There is no getting around the fact that this would… — The forecasted wind field at landfall based on the 5AM NHC track shows potentially catastrophic winds > than 130 mph in the Miami area. Hurricane force winds will likely effect much of south FL. There is no getting around the fact that this would be devastating for S FL is this forecast verifies.

Track (Long-Term): The uncertainty in Irma's track increases some by this weekend. The question is when does the turn to the north occur. If it happens early, it will remain off the eastern coast of Florida but will still bring tropical storm conditions. By keeping the storm over the warm waters, however, this will allow it to maintain its strength and can quite possibly make landfall in the Carolinas. Now if the storm makes a landfall on South Florida, like what many of the models have been honing in on, much of South and Central Florida can expect torrential rain and hurricane-force winds in excess of 100 mph. This would be the worse case scenario. What’s especially concerning about this is that the models that take this track then take it back over the ocean after passing through the Miami area. Furthermore, it may re-strengthen before making a second U.S. landfall on South Carolina. There is still the small chance Irma turns north late in the game and moves into the eastern Gulf of Mexico and affect and western coast of Florida and the Panhandle, but the main focus is on the two scenarios just mentioned. If you are in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, or North Carolina, you need to be preparing, especially if you are by the coast. Also monitor the forecast and evacuate if you are told to do so by your local officials. At this point in time, focus on the cone and not the exact track.

Conclusion: Hurricane Irma is a catastrophic hurricane that you have to prepare for if you are in it’s path. If this storm makes landfall on the Miami, FL area, there is the potential this storm could be worse than Hurricane Andrew.

We will have another update on Hurricane Irma as conditions warrant. Thanks for using our service.

-Jackson Dill, Hurricane Tracker App Team

9/8/17 - Dangerous Hurricane Irma To Cause Widespread Damage In FL Sun/Mon

9/7/17 - Irma Poised To Bring Devastation To The Bahamas & The United States.