Just a day after becoming Tropical Storm Irma, the system intensified and reached major hurricane status Thursday.
- Hurricane Irma has winds of 115 mph
- Rapidly intensifying over Atlantic waters
- Irma's path remains unclear for now
- FULL COVERAGE: Storm Season 2017: Forecast models, links and resources
Irma is the ninth named storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season.
As of 11 p.m. Thursday EST, Hurricane Irma was located near latitude 17.8 north and longitude 35.6 west, moving west-northwest at 12 mph. The storm is about 775 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands. A turn westward is expected Friday, followed by a turn toward the west southwest on Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds are currently at 115 mph, which have leveled off over the past few hours. It seems rapid intensification has ended. Irma is expected to stay a major hurricane, maybe even becoming a category 4 by Monday as it moves west through the Atlantic. Irma will be approaching the Lesser Antilles by Tuesday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles.
In the next three days, models are in good agreement that Irma will turn slightly southwest as it moves through the Atlantic. Long range models are not in agreement and there is a 500 mile spread of where this storm could be around day five, which makes a big difference in the forecast. At this time, the track is very uncertain.
Some curve it north and keep it out to sea, while others take it just north of Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and toward the Turks and Caicos by around Sept. 10, or even into the Gulf of Mexico.
This system is roughly 3000 miles away from central Florida, but this is the perfect time to go over your hurricane preparedness checklist. Make sure you have your supply kit, a plan to evacuate if you're in an evacuation zone and asked to leave and check with your insurance company regarding hurricane and flood coverage.
The peak of the hurricane season is Sept. 10, and the Atlantic looks a bit busy the next couple of weeks.
The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.
