Parts of Cuba are now under a hurricane watch as Irma nears the northern Leeward Islands as a powerful category 5 storm.
As of 11 p.m., the storm has begun its west-northwestward turn as it nears the Leeward Islands at 15 mph. Maximum sustained winds remain at 185 mph.
- Much of the caribbean now under a hurricane watch or warning
- Irma has begun its west-northwest turn
- IRMA UPDATES: Floridians prepare, nervously watch the track
- FULL COVERAGE: Storm Season 2017: Forecast models, links and resources
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Irma is located 50 miles east-northeast of Antigua. Hurricane force winds extend outward to about 50 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles from the center.
Irma has started its west-northwesterly track as it encounters the southwest edge of a ridge of high pressure over the Central Atlantic.
This ridge, along with a trough over the United States will be the driving force for Irma late in the week and into the weekend. Depending on exactly where the trough and ridge position themselves as Irma gets closer to the United States will determine the exact track.
Florida suspended tolls on toll roads across the state in preparation for the storm.
Meanwhile, we are also now watching Tropical Storm Jose in the Atlantic, and Tropical Depression 13 in the Bay of Campeche in Mexico. Head to our Tropical Weather page to see the latest maps.
Watches and warnings have been extended westward to parts of Cuba. The complete list of advisories is:
Hurricane Warnings:
- Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis
- Saba, St. Eustatius, and Saint Maarten
- Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy
- British Virgin Islands
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra
- Dominican Republican from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti
Hurricane Watches:
- Guadeloupe
- 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
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Southeastern Bahamas
- Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo province
Tropical Storm Warnings:
- Guadeloupe
- Dominica
- Dominican Republican from south of Cabo Engano westward to the southern border with Haiti
Tropical Storm Watches:
- Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince
Irma will be traveling over very warm waters which will be a favorable environment for sustaining its strength as a Category 4 hurricane, although fluctuations in intensity will continue with eyewall replacement cycles.
On the current forecast track, the center will move near or over portions of the northern Leeward Islands tonight and early Wednesday, accompanied by life-threatening wind, storm surge and flooding.
The official forecast cone includes parts of the Lesser Antilles, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and portions of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas.
After impacting the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico, there remains some uncertainty as to where Irma will go, but today we are seeing model consistency over more westward track and an eventual turn toward Florida.
Exactly where this turn will occur, whether it is west of the Peninsula, east of it, or right up the spine is yet to be determined. There remains a large spread in the models of where this storm could be past day five, which makes a significant difference in the forecast.
Although it still remains too early to accurately project impacts locally, with a hurricane potentially near Florida within the next 5 to 7 days, now is a good time to double check your preparations.
The chance of direct impacts from Irma continues to increase in the Florida Keys and portions of the Florida Peninsula by this weekend. However, it is too soon to specify the timing and magnitude of these impacts.
The peak of the hurricane season is Sept. 10, and the Atlantic basin will likely remain busy over the next week.
The fairly quiet weather right now is a great 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.
There is no need to be scared, it is always good to be prepared. The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.