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| Hurricane Irma: Visual guide | Hurricane Irma: Visual guide |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The most powerful Atlantic storm in a decade has caused widespread destruction across the Caribbean and left at least 19 people dead. Irma, which reached category five hurricane status, has been packing winds of up to 295km/h (185mph). | |
| Irma has already left the small island of Barbuda "barely habitable" and St Martin almost destroyed. It has also pummelled the Turks and Caicos Islands. | Irma has already left the small island of Barbuda "barely habitable" and St Martin almost destroyed. It has also pummelled the Turks and Caicos Islands. |
| Officials in Florida in the US, where Irma is heading, have warned the storm will "devastate" either Florida or neighbouring states. | |
| Irma is breaking weather records | Irma is breaking weather records |
| Irma, now downgraded to a category four hurricane, had winds topping 295km/h - making it the strongest storm on record in the Atlantic Ocean, outside of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. | |
| Hurricanes Irma and Jose, 7 September | Hurricanes Irma and Jose, 7 September |
| According to Phil Klotzbach, research scientist at Colorado State University's Department of Atmospheric Science, Irma's top wind speeds were tied with the second-strongest maximum winds of all time for an Atlantic hurricane. Irma matches a 1935 storm in the Florida Keys and Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and Wilma in 2005. | According to Phil Klotzbach, research scientist at Colorado State University's Department of Atmospheric Science, Irma's top wind speeds were tied with the second-strongest maximum winds of all time for an Atlantic hurricane. Irma matches a 1935 storm in the Florida Keys and Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and Wilma in 2005. |
| Only one hurricane, Allen in 1980, has recorded stronger winds, at 190 mph, he said. | Only one hurricane, Allen in 1980, has recorded stronger winds, at 190 mph, he said. |
| However, Irma has broken Allen's record for sustained winds. It has maintained maximum wind speeds of 295km/h for longer than any other Atlantic Hurricane. | However, Irma has broken Allen's record for sustained winds. It has maintained maximum wind speeds of 295km/h for longer than any other Atlantic Hurricane. |
| The hurricane's winds have moderated slightly, however, at up to 165mph (270km/h). | The hurricane's winds have moderated slightly, however, at up to 165mph (270km/h). |
| Irma grew in strength over a few days | Irma grew in strength over a few days |
| The remnants of Hurricane Harvey, which hit in late August, could still be seen by satellite when Irma made its way across the Atlantic towards the Caribbean. | The remnants of Hurricane Harvey, which hit in late August, could still be seen by satellite when Irma made its way across the Atlantic towards the Caribbean. |
| Irma and remnants of Hurricane Harvey, 2 September | Irma and remnants of Hurricane Harvey, 2 September |
| Irma was just a category two storm seen here on 2 September, but soon became category three. | Irma was just a category two storm seen here on 2 September, but soon became category three. |
| Irma grew stronger quickly because of a combination of very warm water, high levels of mid-level relative humidity, and vertical wind conditions, meteorologists say. | Irma grew stronger quickly because of a combination of very warm water, high levels of mid-level relative humidity, and vertical wind conditions, meteorologists say. |
| Between 2 and 5 September Irma strengthened from a category three to a category five storm, the highest possible level. | Between 2 and 5 September Irma strengthened from a category three to a category five storm, the highest possible level. |
| By 6 September, the hurricane was bearing down on the Caribbean, battering many island communities. It continued its trail of destruction through 7 and 8 September. | By 6 September, the hurricane was bearing down on the Caribbean, battering many island communities. It continued its trail of destruction through 7 and 8 September. |
| Irma is being followed by storm Jose, which has been upgraded to hurricane status. | Irma is being followed by storm Jose, which has been upgraded to hurricane status. |
| Irma's clouds are very, very cold | Irma's clouds are very, very cold |
| Infrared data from the Nasa-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Suomi NPP satellite on 7 September revealed very cold, very high, powerful thunderstorms stretching around Irma's northern, eastern and southern sides. | Infrared data from the Nasa-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Suomi NPP satellite on 7 September revealed very cold, very high, powerful thunderstorms stretching around Irma's northern, eastern and southern sides. |
| Storms with cloud tops reaching very low temperatures have the capability to generate "very heavy rainfall", according to Nasa. | Storms with cloud tops reaching very low temperatures have the capability to generate "very heavy rainfall", according to Nasa. |
| Infrared image of Irma, 7 September | Infrared image of Irma, 7 September |
| Cloud-top temperatures at the centre of the storm were as cold as 190 kelvin (minus 83.1C/117.7F), Nasa said. | Cloud-top temperatures at the centre of the storm were as cold as 190 kelvin (minus 83.1C/117.7F), Nasa said. |
| Irma is generating a lot of rain | Irma is generating a lot of rain |
| The eye of the storm is about 35 miles across and is generating "extreme rainfall". | The eye of the storm is about 35 miles across and is generating "extreme rainfall". |
| Nasa rainfall analysis of Irma's eye, 5 September | Nasa rainfall analysis of Irma's eye, 5 September |
| Nasa's rainfall analysis showed rain falling at a rate of more than 274mm (10.8in) per hour on 5 September in the solid ring of storms within Irma's eye. | Nasa's rainfall analysis showed rain falling at a rate of more than 274mm (10.8in) per hour on 5 September in the solid ring of storms within Irma's eye. |
| The powerful storms rotating around the eye were really tall, reaching altitudes greater than 12.5km (7.75 miles). | The powerful storms rotating around the eye were really tall, reaching altitudes greater than 12.5km (7.75 miles). |
| But the tallest thunderstorms were found south west of Irma's eye, reaching heights of more than 16.2km (10 miles), Nasa said. | But the tallest thunderstorms were found south west of Irma's eye, reaching heights of more than 16.2km (10 miles), Nasa said. |
| Sea temperatures below Irma are warm | Sea temperatures below Irma are warm |
| Warm oceans, along with wind speed and direction, are the two key ingredients that fuel and sustain hurricanes. | Warm oceans, along with wind speed and direction, are the two key ingredients that fuel and sustain hurricanes. |
| As Irma approaches the Bahamas and Florida, it will be passing over waters that are warmer than 30C (86F) - hot enough to sustain a category five storm, according to Nasa scientists. | As Irma approaches the Bahamas and Florida, it will be passing over waters that are warmer than 30C (86F) - hot enough to sustain a category five storm, according to Nasa scientists. |
| Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico temperatures | Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico temperatures |
| The line on the map represents Irma's track between 3 and 6 September. | The line on the map represents Irma's track between 3 and 6 September. |
| Irma is affecting many places | Irma is affecting many places |
| Hurricane Irma has hit many of the Caribbean's islands and is expected to reach the US on Sunday. | Hurricane Irma has hit many of the Caribbean's islands and is expected to reach the US on Sunday. |
| Already hit: | Already hit: |
| At risk: | At risk: |
| Storm Jose has formed further out in the Atlantic behind Irma, and has been upgraded to hurricane status. | Storm Jose has formed further out in the Atlantic behind Irma, and has been upgraded to hurricane status. |
| And storm Katia, in the Gulf of Mexico, has also been upgraded. A warning was in effect for the coast of the Mexican state of Veracruz. | And storm Katia, in the Gulf of Mexico, has also been upgraded. A warning was in effect for the coast of the Mexican state of Veracruz. |
| The impact could be 'catastrophic' | The impact could be 'catastrophic' |
| The howling winds and rough seas of Irma are expected to cause widespread devastation. | The howling winds and rough seas of Irma are expected to cause widespread devastation. |
| The National Hurricane Center says Irma will bring "life-threatening" winds, storm surges and rainfall. | The National Hurricane Center says Irma will bring "life-threatening" winds, storm surges and rainfall. |
| Storm surge risk | Storm surge risk |
| Another deadly risk from hurricanes comes in the form of storm surges. | Another deadly risk from hurricanes comes in the form of storm surges. |
| Huge volumes of water are pushed by hurricane force winds. Where they meet land, the water surges inshore at levels far exceeding normal tides. | Huge volumes of water are pushed by hurricane force winds. Where they meet land, the water surges inshore at levels far exceeding normal tides. |
| The National Hurricane Center issued warnings for possible storm surges raising water levels from between 30-90cm (3-5ft) in northern Haiti and the northern Dominican Republic to between 4.5-6m (15-20ft) in the south-eastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. |