Hurricane Irma passed through the Florida Keys this morning with ferocious wind and storm surge.
As the eye passed just west of Big Pine Key, an automated weather reporting station at the National Key Deer Refuge measured a wind gust of 120 mph. Other gusts reported from the Keys include 93 mph at Alligator Reef Light and Carysfort Reef Light, 92 mph at Molasses Reef Light, and 89 mph at the National Weather Service Office on Key West.
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Other peak gusts through late morning on the Florida peninsula include 87 mph at Fort Lauderdale, 63 mph in Naples, 59 mph at St. Lucie County International Airport, 55 mph at Port Charlotte, 49 mph in Sarasota, and 36 mph at Cape Canaveral.
St. Augustine reported a 56 mph gust, Mayport reported 50 mph, 41 mph at JAX, 42 mph on the I-295 bridge, 32 mph at Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport, and 38 mph at Brunswick / Glynco Airport.
Per the 11:00 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, Irma has maintained its Category 4 strength with 130 mph maximum sustained winds immediately surrounding the eye. It appears that the Key West radar either failed or lost power just before 9:30 a.m. so, switching to the Miami radar, it appears that Irma is headed right toward Marco Island, then Naples, and then right up Florida’s west coast. The Tampa area hasn’t been directly hit by a hurricane since 1921, but that’s going to change today.
Our in-house RPM model has just updated with the new 8 a.m. weather balloon data ingested, so here’s the latest projections on the storm’s movement up the state:
4 p.m. Sunday
8 p.m. Sunday
12 a.m. Monday
4 a.m. Monday
8 a.m. Monday
12 p.m. Monday
4 p.m. Monday
8 p.m. Monday
The Weather Authority continues to emphasize that dangerous conditions extend well out away from the eye. Conditions will steadily deteriorate here in northeast Florida through Monday, with areas west of I-75 likely to experience hurricane forecast wind gusts, and the entire area at least receiving tropical storm force gusts. All of the rain Florida is receiving softens the soil, which then makes it easier for the wind to topple trees.
As we near the storm’s peak later Sunday night into early Monday, it is important to shelter in place and STAY OFF THE ROADS. The number one priority after conditions begin improving will be to clear the roads of all trees and debris so that first responders and FPL can get to their vitally important tasks as soon as possible.
Also remember that the tornado threat will increase through Monday, and there have already been a number of tornado warnings issued downstate.
Finally, while everybody is focusing on wind with this storm, don’t forget the water aspect. Eight to fifteen inches of total rain will, by itself, cause flooding. Add on the initial east to northeast winds creating a storm surge for our coastal locations, and the south winds that will develop as Irma continues pushing north of us that will push the St. Johns River water northward, and flooding is a very real concern.
The Weather Authority is your trusted source for everything you need to know about catastrophic Hurricane Irma -- stay with us both on-air and online for the very latest updates.