Hurricane Irma has begun a slow northwest turn, and the Florida Keys are being hit with rain bands.

Latest Forecast

11 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017

Currently, its winds are sustained at 120 mph, which makes it a strong Category 3 storm.  

It remains on target to directly impact Florida based on the latest track and forecast models with a projected path over the Florida Keys into Southwest Florida, however squalls of rain and wind will be drawn onshore to Central Florida starting tonight. Preparations locally should be brought to completion in anticipation of hurricane force winds among other hazards.

The center is located about 90 miles southeast of Key West. Hurricane Irma is moving to the northwest.

The timing has slowed down slightly. Irma's track should take it over the Keys by early morning, before nearing the coast of southwest Florida tomorrow afternoon. The strongest wind will be felt in Central Florida overnight tomorrow night through midday Monday.

Hurricane force winds extend outward to about 70 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles from the center. The minimum pressure is at 933 mb.

Dangerous threats of rising water along our east coast have warranted storm surge alerts due to the danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline.

Those within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions, and follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.  

The complete list of advisories is:

Storm surge warnings:

  • South Santee River southward to Jupiter Inlet
  • North Miami Beach southward around the Florida peninsula to the Ochlockonee River
  • Florida Keys
  • Tampa Bay

Storm surge watches:

  • North of the Suwanee River to Ochlockonee River

Hurricane warnings:

  • Flagler/Volusia line south
  • Orange, Sumter, Seminole, Brevard, Marion, Osceola, Lake and Volusia counties
  • Fernandina Beach southward around the Florida peninsula to Indian Pass
  • Florida Keys
  • Lake Okeechobee
  • Florida Bay
  • Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus,
  • Villa Clara, Matanzas, and Havana
  • Andros Island, Bimini and Grand Bahama​

Hurricane watches:

  • North of Fernandina Beach to Edisto Beach

A flood watch is also in effect for much of the area through Monday night.

Irma will be traveling over very warm waters, which will be a favorable environment for restrengthening.

It is projected to undergo some fluctuations in intensity with eyewall replacement cycles, but it should be a Category 4 at landfall before weakening as it lifts north along the west coast of Florida as a dangerous Category 2 or 3 storm.

Models continue to slide to the west with the center of Irma moving up or near the Gulf Coast.

Regardless of the specific track, Irma is a large storm with a wind field spanning more than 400 miles so all of Central Florida should prepare for the impacts of a major hurricane impacting both coasts and inland locations.

Remember, hurricanes produce more than wind. Hazards include storm surge flooding, inland flooding, isolated tornadoes, rough ocean conditions and beach erosion.

Although winds have eased since the peak of 185 mph a few days ago, Irma will already go in the record books as the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin outside of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.

Floridians and visitors are encouraged not to focus on the exact track, which will continue to shift as the storm nears. Hurricane plans should be finalized and kits should be stocked as all of Central Florida is in the forecast cone.

Preparations should be completed by now before bands of heavy rain and wind begin to move in from the south. Leaving tonight or tomorrow is discouraged as tropical storm and hurricane force winds will be affecting much of the area, including along Interstate 4.

In addition to Irma, News 13 is also tracking Hurricane Jose, which has warranted watches and warnings for the northern Leeward Islands, where Irma hit just a few days ago. It has no threat to Florida at this time.

It is the time to have hurricane preparedness plans and checklists in place and be ready to evacuate if local officials say to do so.

The peak of hurricane season is Sept. 10 and the season goes through Nov. 30.

News 13's Interactive Storm Tracker