Eric Fisher, Chief Meteorologist @CBSBoston w/reports for @CBSNews:
Irma ticks up another notch at 2pm…now 185mph winds! Breaks own record for strongest hurricane east of the Caribbean.
To appreciate that development, check out the NOAA presentation of hurricanes that formed in the far eastern Atlantic basin
Normally it takes storms some time to get their acts together once they leave the West African coastline, only intensifying to hurricane strength after spending many days over warm ocean waters. In Fred’s case, the storm took advantage of an unusually short window where conditions were favorable for a quick development, a rare case so close to Africa.
In fact, only one storm, Hurricane Vince in 2005, became a hurricane farther east than Fred,…
Note from the graphic that none of these known hurricanes managed to reach western hemisphere land masses. Irma was a tropical storm until it was more than 420 miles west of Cape Verde which was still a bit further east than most serious hurricanes that reach the west. Moving further west, it organized and strengthened quickly.
At that point, August 31, 2017, when it was 650 miles west of Cape Verde, it fluctuated between a Cat 2 and Cat 3 and expected to strengthen to a Cat 4. Its projected track remained unclear but a shift north and dissipation far out at sea were becoming less likely and near the Leeward Islands was a given.
See the Sep 2, 2017 projected track here. Irma’s projected track changed significantly over the next two days. Much further west and a threat to the Dominican Republic and Cuba.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the eastern most islands in the Caribbean: Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Monserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis , Saba, St. Eustasias, Sint Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy.
Today Irma strengthened to a Cat 5 (up from a Cat 4 announced yesterday) The latest projected track reduces that area of DR that may be impacted but all of Cuba and a larger portion of South Florida is now in the zone.
Hurricane warning:
Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saba, St. Eustatius and Sint Maarten, Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra
The good news is that South Florida residents spent the weekend stocking up on emergency supplies ahead of Gov Scott’s State of Emergency declaration yesterday (June 4). Assuming the empty store shelves can be quickly resupplied for those that didn’t or couldn’t make their purchases over the weekend, South Florida residents will be better prepared than most for a potential hurricane.
Effective noon today Key West Transit has suspended all fare for all routes including the Lower Key Shuttle, in prep of Hurricane Irma.
8:43 AM – 5 Sep 2017
Use the diary thread for whatever, but updates, etc. on Hurricane Irma are most appreciated.
Update #1
Irma has now maintained 185 mph winds for 24 hours – no Atlantic or eastern Pacific #hurricane has ever stayed this strong for so long.
Central pressure Wed am, 914 millibars, only the lowest in a decade.