CYCLONIC FURY

Hurricane Irma made two landfalls in Florida today. The first was near the Lower Florida Keys, where Irma made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph and a minimum pressure of 929 mb. The second was near Marco Island, as a category 3 hurricane with a minimum pressure of 940 mb. With Irma making landfall as a major hurricane, it makes it the second major hurricane landfall for the United States in three weeks – after none for twelve years. It also makes 2017 the first season on record with two hurricanes making landfall in the United States at category 4 strength.

As of 11:00 p.m. EDT, Hurricane Irma was centered near 27.5°N 81.9°W and was moving northward at about 14 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 85 knots (100 mph), with an estimated minimum pressure of 952 mb. Irma is already well inland Florida, and is expected to turn towards the north-northwest on Monday. Irma is likely to bring heavy rains to much of the southeastern United States as it continues north-northwestward, including areas far from the center of circulation. Irma is expected to move into Alabama, Mississippi, and eventually western Tennessee by the middle of the week, before it is expected to become a post-tropical remnant low on Wednesday.

I will be back with another blog post tomorrow.