Irma Continues Tearing Through Florida

The center of Irma continues to move northward through Florida. What is left of the eye is well inland and is headed for somewhere between Tampa Bay and Orlando. While the hurricane is weakening it is doing so very slowly. The circulation remains well defined on the satellite loop and strong wind gusts continue. Naples had a wind gust of 142 mph and Marco Island which saw the eye pass over it had a wind gust of 130. Gusts over 120 mph occurred over the Keys when it passed over them this morning.

SATELLITE LOOP

The Miami radar shows decreasing activity now that the center of Irma is well northwest of them. Some spiral bands continue to play through but they are weaker then what occurred earlier. Winds are still strong and gusty but they will begin to slowly diminish over the next day or so.

LOCAL RADAR MIAMI FLORIDA

What is left of the core of Irma is very distinct on the Tampa Bay radar this evening between Sarasota and Sebring. Inland wind gusts to hurricane force will continue overnight. Hurricane force gusts will also continue on both coasts until the center begins a northwest hook on Monday and heads into Georgia. Tropical Storm Warnings are up all through the state of Georgia which is a very rare occurance.

LOCAL RADAR KEY WEST

..1000 PM EDT POSITION UPDATE…
…IRMA PRODUCING WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS ACROSS MUCH OF
FLORIDA…

A National Ocean Service observing site in Tampa Bay just measured
a wind gust of 78 mph (126 km/h).

An unofficial observing station in Clearwater Beach, Florida, just
measured a wind gust of 78 mph (126 km/h).

The Juno Beach Pier recently reported a wind gust of 83 mph (134
km/h).

SUMMARY OF 1000 PM EDT…0200 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————-
LOCATION…27.3N 81.9W
ABOUT 50 MI…80 KM ENE OF FT. MYERS FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…105 MPH…165 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…N OR 350 DEGREES AT 14 MPH…22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…948 MB…27.99 INCHES