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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Irma: Visual guide | Hurricane Irma: Visual guide |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The most powerful Atlantic storm in a decade has caused widespread destruction across the Caribbean and left at least nine people dead. Irma, a category five hurricane, is 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 is currently north-east of the Dominican Republic, heading towards Turks and Caicos. | |
| Irma is accompanied by two more storms that have strengthened to become hurricanes - Katia ahead of it and Jose behind. | |
| Irma is breaking weather records | |
| Irma's 295km/h winds make it the strongest storm on record in the Atlantic Ocean - outside of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. | |
| Hurricane Irma, 6 September | |
| According to Phil Klotzbach, research scientist at Colorado State University's Department of Atmospheric Science, Irma's wind speeds are 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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 followed by Jose, 6 September | |
| 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. | By 6 September, the hurricane was bearing down on the Caribbean, battering many island communities. |
| It was being followed by storm Jose, which was later 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 4 September revealed very cold, very high, powerful thunderstorms on Irma's western side. | Infrared data from the Nasa-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Suomi NPP satellite on 4 September revealed very cold, very high, powerful thunderstorms on Irma's western side. |
| 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, 4 September 04:32 local time (16:32 GMT) | Infrared image of Irma, 4 September 04:32 local time (16:32 GMT) |
| Cloud-top temperatures at the centre of the storm were near minus 83.5C (minus 117.7F), Nasa said. | Cloud-top temperatures at the centre of the storm were near minus 83.5C (minus 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. |
| Irma will hit many places | Irma will hit many places |
| Hurricane Irma is expected to hit many of the Caribbean's islands before reaching the US on Saturday. | Hurricane Irma is expected to hit many of the Caribbean's islands before reaching the US on Saturday. |
| Islands already hit: | Islands already hit: |
| Islands at risk: | Islands 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' |
| Officials have warned Hurricane Irma could have "potentially catastrophic" effects. | Officials have warned Hurricane Irma could have "potentially catastrophic" effects. |
| 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. |
| The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings about 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. | The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings about 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. |
| Storm surges are caused by the winds swirling around a hurricane pushing the water towards the shore. | Storm surges are caused by the winds swirling around a hurricane pushing the water towards the shore. |
| This advancing surge, when combined with a high tide, can lead to widespread flooding in coastal and low-lying areas. | This advancing surge, when combined with a high tide, can lead to widespread flooding in coastal and low-lying areas. |