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| Version 26 | Version 27 |
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| Hurricane Irma: Florida told to expect 15ft surges as storm closes in – latest updates | Hurricane Irma: Florida told to expect 15ft surges as storm closes in – latest updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.44pm BST | |
| 23:44 | |
| What we know so far | |
| Hurricane Irma turned north toward Florida after crashing across Cuba’s north coast, wrecking towns with 125mph winds and surging waves. As of 6pm local time, the storm was about 120 miles away from Florida and expected to regain category four intensity. | |
| Huge waves started to crash onto the Florida Keys, where the storm is expected to make landfall early Sunday morning. Winds of about 50mph were detected at a reef at the Keys, and authorities pleaded with people who did not heed evacuation orders to get to shelters. | |
| More than seven million people were ordered to flee from their homes in several states, including nearly a third of Florida’s population. More than 50,000 people are in about 300 shelters around the state, counties enacted curfews, and power providers already began to struggle with demand. | |
| Florida prepared for what its governor called “the most catastrophic storm the state has ever seen”. Gusts of intense wind and rain swept into Miami, and tornado warnings were issued for most of the southern counties. Irma is forecast to make landfall on the Keys, then again near Cape Coral or Fort Myers, and then a third time near Tampa Bay on its path up Florida’s west coast. | |
| In Florida’s south-west, officials expect storm surges as high as 15ft. “Fifteen feet is devastating and will cover your house,” governor Rick Scott said. “Do not think the storm is over when the wind slows down. The storm surge will rush in and it could kill you.” Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Gimenez warned people of intense surges on parts of the south-east: waves taller than an average person and wind that can turn flower pots and trash cans into deadly projectiles. | |
| Twenty-five people have been confirmed killed around the Caribbean, including 11 people on French St Martin and St Barts, four in the US Virgin Islands, three on Puerto Rico, two on Dutch St Maarten, one person in Anguilla and a two year old in Barbuda. | |
| Category-four hurricane Jose threatened landfall in the eastern Caribbean, complicating relief efforts for islands that have only just emerged from Irma’s winds. But the storms spared Barbuda, where the prime minister estimated 90% of buildings were destroyed by Irma a few days earlier. | |
| Another storm, Katia, was downgraded to a tropical depression as it pushed onto land from Mexico’s Gulf coast. Two people were killed in a mudslide in Veracruz, according to the AP. | |
| 11.42pm BST | |
| 23:42 | |
| The governor says his greatest fear right now is that people will underestimate the storm surge, which is expected to be as much as 15ft in the Florida Keys and parts of the south-west coast. | |
| He recalls a storm some years ago that brought six-foot storm surges into Naples, and the breathtaking speed of the water crashing into homes. He says it’s hard to describe “how fast the water moved in and how fast the water moved out”. | |
| “That was six feet,” he says. “You just think about – how can anybody survive this stuff? | |
| “I just want everybody to live.” | |
| 11.34pm BST | 11.34pm BST |
| 23:34 | 23:34 |
| Scott emphasizes that the dangers don’t end even once the storm itself has passed: there will be downed, live power lines, dangerous roads, lack of power, and likely shortages. | Scott emphasizes that the dangers don’t end even once the storm itself has passed: there will be downed, live power lines, dangerous roads, lack of power, and likely shortages. |
| “Everyone’s going to have to be patient, and it’s going to be hard to be patient. Everybody’s going to want to go home and see what happened.” | “Everyone’s going to have to be patient, and it’s going to be hard to be patient. Everybody’s going to want to go home and see what happened.” |
| He says the state has been preparing aggressively for the aftermath – “try to get fuel back, try to get the power back, try to get the roads cleared, try to do everything” – but it’s impossible to know exactly what the disaster will do and where. | He says the state has been preparing aggressively for the aftermath – “try to get fuel back, try to get the power back, try to get the roads cleared, try to do everything” – but it’s impossible to know exactly what the disaster will do and where. |
| “This is going to be massive.” | “This is going to be massive.” |
| 11.30pm BST | 11.30pm BST |
| 23:30 | 23:30 |
| Governor Scott: "this is your last chance" | Governor Scott: "this is your last chance" |
| The center of hurricane Irma will pass directly over the Florida Keys, governor Rick Scott says, at what’s likely one of his last updates before the storm grips Florida overnight and early Sunday morning. | The center of hurricane Irma will pass directly over the Florida Keys, governor Rick Scott says, at what’s likely one of his last updates before the storm grips Florida overnight and early Sunday morning. |
| “Millions of Floridians will see life-threatening winds beginning tonight,” he says, with the “significant threat of serious storm surge along the whole west coast of Florida.” | “Millions of Floridians will see life-threatening winds beginning tonight,” he says, with the “significant threat of serious storm surge along the whole west coast of Florida.” |
| Tampa will see a surge of five to eight feet, and the Big Bend area three to six feet. Parts of Miami-Dade County will see surges of five to eight feet, mayor Carlos Gimenez said earlier on Saturday. “Do not think the storm is over when the wind slows down,” Scott warns. “The storm surge could rush in and it could kill you.” | Tampa will see a surge of five to eight feet, and the Big Bend area three to six feet. Parts of Miami-Dade County will see surges of five to eight feet, mayor Carlos Gimenez said earlier on Saturday. “Do not think the storm is over when the wind slows down,” Scott warns. “The storm surge could rush in and it could kill you.” |
| He stresses the sudden, brutal force of the surges: “When it happens the water just rushes in and rushes out.” | He stresses the sudden, brutal force of the surges: “When it happens the water just rushes in and rushes out.” |
| The Florida Keys will see up to 25in of rain, Scott says, while much of southern Florida will have as much as 18in. “This is clearly a life threatening situation.” | The Florida Keys will see up to 25in of rain, Scott says, while much of southern Florida will have as much as 18in. “This is clearly a life threatening situation.” |
| More than 6.5 million Floridians were told to flee to inland and northern shelters, he says, 70,000 of whom are at shelters.Thousands are already without power, though Scott says the state will work hard to restore it, and to concentrate on speedy recovery efforts after the storm’s 24-36-hour passage up the state. | More than 6.5 million Floridians were told to flee to inland and northern shelters, he says, 70,000 of whom are at shelters.Thousands are already without power, though Scott says the state will work hard to restore it, and to concentrate on speedy recovery efforts after the storm’s 24-36-hour passage up the state. |
| Finally he pleads with people to get to shelters immediately: “if you’re in an area that was told to evacuate, you need to leave, now. This is your last chance to make a good decision.” | Finally he pleads with people to get to shelters immediately: “if you’re in an area that was told to evacuate, you need to leave, now. This is your last chance to make a good decision.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.35pm BST | at 11.35pm BST |
| 11.09pm BST | 11.09pm BST |
| 23:09 | 23:09 |
| Jessica Glenza, reporting from St Petersburg, has spoken with evacuees from around the city and other areas of Florida’s west coast. | Jessica Glenza, reporting from St Petersburg, has spoken with evacuees from around the city and other areas of Florida’s west coast. |
| As the storm approached Tampa Bay, people on the western edge of the bay in Pinellas county “scrambled” to get ready for a hurricane likely to bring 110 mile per hoursustained winds to the low-lying county. | As the storm approached Tampa Bay, people on the western edge of the bay in Pinellas county “scrambled” to get ready for a hurricane likely to bring 110 mile per hoursustained winds to the low-lying county. |
| “We’ve been having press conferences two or three times a day trying to get people informed, to get them to evacuate,” said Pat Gerard, a county commissioner in Pinellas. “Of course they’re not doing it, but it’s just what they do.” | “We’ve been having press conferences two or three times a day trying to get people informed, to get them to evacuate,” said Pat Gerard, a county commissioner in Pinellas. “Of course they’re not doing it, but it’s just what they do.” |
| The last seriously destructive storm to hit Tampa Bay was in 1921, a category three hurricane that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called it the “forgotten nightmare”. | The last seriously destructive storm to hit Tampa Bay was in 1921, a category three hurricane that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called it the “forgotten nightmare”. |
| “Everybody’s scrambling around trying to get ready,” said Gerard. “We have 160,000 people in the first evacuation level, so we had to start to try to get people out.” | “Everybody’s scrambling around trying to get ready,” said Gerard. “We have 160,000 people in the first evacuation level, so we had to start to try to get people out.” |
| Around the county, many said they were making last minute preparations to for the storm. Putting plywood on windows; charging phones; stocking propane, gas, water and food. | Around the county, many said they were making last minute preparations to for the storm. Putting plywood on windows; charging phones; stocking propane, gas, water and food. |
| Further south, those who had already evacuated said they were trying to adjust to their new reality. | Further south, those who had already evacuated said they were trying to adjust to their new reality. |
| George Rogner, a 58-year-old DJ, was evacuated to a nearby elementary school, bunked in a hallway with “lots” more people. | George Rogner, a 58-year-old DJ, was evacuated to a nearby elementary school, bunked in a hallway with “lots” more people. |
| “Right now, the power’s on so we’re all charging up the phones and they have the hallways are air conditioned here thats where we’re at,” Rogner said. “You never what a storm is going to do, people are driving all over the state to get away from it and it just follows them.” | “Right now, the power’s on so we’re all charging up the phones and they have the hallways are air conditioned here thats where we’re at,” Rogner said. “You never what a storm is going to do, people are driving all over the state to get away from it and it just follows them.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.15pm BST | at 11.15pm BST |
| 11.03pm BST | 11.03pm BST |
| 23:03 | 23:03 |
| Puerto Rico, where US naval ships and supplies are en route to provide relief, is still struggling with massive power outages and, in some places, water shortages. | Puerto Rico, where US naval ships and supplies are en route to provide relief, is still struggling with massive power outages and, in some places, water shortages. |
| Thousands of people have already lost power in south Florida, with the eye of the storm still over 100 miles off the coast. | Thousands of people have already lost power in south Florida, with the eye of the storm still over 100 miles off the coast. |
| UPDATE: 582,615 without power in Puerto Rico #HurricaneIrma | UPDATE: 582,615 without power in Puerto Rico #HurricaneIrma |
| 10.40pm BST | 10.40pm BST |
| 22:40 | 22:40 |
| Gusts of intense wind and rain are intermittently whipping through Miami now, and waters rising all around the Florida Keys. The storm is expected to strengthen as it crosses the 120 miles or so from Cuba’s north coastline. | Gusts of intense wind and rain are intermittently whipping through Miami now, and waters rising all around the Florida Keys. The storm is expected to strengthen as it crosses the 120 miles or so from Cuba’s north coastline. |
| Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Giminez is giving a press conference. He says that officials consider a four to six foot storm surge to be life threatening, and expect surges within that range for parts of the county. The worst of the winds will be around 4am, he says, roughly in line with the worst winds at daybreak at the Florida Keys. | Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Giminez is giving a press conference. He says that officials consider a four to six foot storm surge to be life threatening, and expect surges within that range for parts of the county. The worst of the winds will be around 4am, he says, roughly in line with the worst winds at daybreak at the Florida Keys. |
| The storm he says is projected to grow to a category four by the time it reaches Florida, and urges people – if they’re still outside, or when they go outside after the storm – to take extreme care. “If you run across a downed power line, consider it hot. If you run across a downed [traffic light], please consider it a four way stop.” | The storm he says is projected to grow to a category four by the time it reaches Florida, and urges people – if they’re still outside, or when they go outside after the storm – to take extreme care. “If you run across a downed power line, consider it hot. If you run across a downed [traffic light], please consider it a four way stop.” |
| Powerful wind and rain blowing into Miami right now. #hurricaneIrma @NBC6 pic.twitter.com/6CKPPeK811 | Powerful wind and rain blowing into Miami right now. #hurricaneIrma @NBC6 pic.twitter.com/6CKPPeK811 |
| 10.20pm BST | 10.20pm BST |
| 22:20 | 22:20 |
| Parts of Cuba have been turned to flooded and battered ruins, the AP reports, as Irma finally moves away from its northern coast. | Parts of Cuba have been turned to flooded and battered ruins, the AP reports, as Irma finally moves away from its northern coast. |
| Cuban coastal cities were clobbered by high winds from Irma that upended trees, toppled utility poles and scattered debris across streets. Roads were blocked, and witnesses said a provincial museum near the eye of the storm was in ruins. | Cuban coastal cities were clobbered by high winds from Irma that upended trees, toppled utility poles and scattered debris across streets. Roads were blocked, and witnesses said a provincial museum near the eye of the storm was in ruins. |
| There were no immediate reports of casualties in Cuba in addition to the more than 20 confirmed dead across the Caribbean, where the storm ravaged such lush resort islands as St. Martin, St. Barts, St. Thomas, Barbuda and Anguilla. | There were no immediate reports of casualties in Cuba in addition to the more than 20 confirmed dead across the Caribbean, where the storm ravaged such lush resort islands as St. Martin, St. Barts, St. Thomas, Barbuda and Anguilla. |
| Video images from northern and eastern Cuba showed uprooted utility poles and signs, many downed trees and extensive damage to roofs. | Video images from northern and eastern Cuba showed uprooted utility poles and signs, many downed trees and extensive damage to roofs. |
| Eastern Cuba, home to the island’s poor, rural population and a major sugarcane-growing area, faces a difficult recovery, with its economy in tatters even before the storm because of years of neglect and lack of investment. | Eastern Cuba, home to the island’s poor, rural population and a major sugarcane-growing area, faces a difficult recovery, with its economy in tatters even before the storm because of years of neglect and lack of investment. |
| Civil Defense official Gergorio Torres said authorities were trying to tally the extent of the damage, which appeared concentrated in banana-growing areas. | Civil Defense official Gergorio Torres said authorities were trying to tally the extent of the damage, which appeared concentrated in banana-growing areas. |
| A second hurricane, category four Jose, is threatening some of those same islands in the eastern Caribbean. Others, including tiny, devastated Barbuda, were spared a second strike at the last minute as the storm passed. | A second hurricane, category four Jose, is threatening some of those same islands in the eastern Caribbean. Others, including tiny, devastated Barbuda, were spared a second strike at the last minute as the storm passed. |
| On the Dutch side of St. Martin, an island divided between French and Dutch control, an estimated 70 percent of the homes were destroyed by Irma, according to the Dutch government. Officials said Jose was forecast to dump more rain on the island’s buildings, many of which lost their roofs to Irma. | On the Dutch side of St. Martin, an island divided between French and Dutch control, an estimated 70 percent of the homes were destroyed by Irma, according to the Dutch government. Officials said Jose was forecast to dump more rain on the island’s buildings, many of which lost their roofs to Irma. |
| As Irma rolled in, Cuban soldiers went through coastal towns to force people to evacuate, taking people to shelters at government buildings and schools and even caves. | As Irma rolled in, Cuban soldiers went through coastal towns to force people to evacuate, taking people to shelters at government buildings and schools and even caves. |
| 10.10pm BST | 10.10pm BST |
| 22:10 | 22:10 |
| With its 5pm advisory, the National Hurricane Center says that hurricane Irma’s eye is moving away off the coast of Cuba and toward the mainland United States. | With its 5pm advisory, the National Hurricane Center says that hurricane Irma’s eye is moving away off the coast of Cuba and toward the mainland United States. |
| The Florida Keys, where water is already rushing up onto land in some areas, should expect “major hurricane force winds” at daybreak. Irma is still about 120 miles south-east of the archipelago. There are already tornado warnings in many south Florida counties. | The Florida Keys, where water is already rushing up onto land in some areas, should expect “major hurricane force winds” at daybreak. Irma is still about 120 miles south-east of the archipelago. There are already tornado warnings in many south Florida counties. |
| TRACKING Hurricane Irma : view from my cousins home in North Miami,Sunny Isles Beach.Irma hasn't made landfall & this is what it looks like pic.twitter.com/V6uFG2FmhC | TRACKING Hurricane Irma : view from my cousins home in North Miami,Sunny Isles Beach.Irma hasn't made landfall & this is what it looks like pic.twitter.com/V6uFG2FmhC |
| 10.02pm BST | 10.02pm BST |
| 22:02 | 22:02 |
| Storm surges are already pushing waters up onto land of the Florida Keys, with alarming video coming from local reporters in the path of hurricane Irma. | Storm surges are already pushing waters up onto land of the Florida Keys, with alarming video coming from local reporters in the path of hurricane Irma. |
| The hurricane is still over a hundred miles away, near the coast of Cuba. The Keys will be its first landfall after regaining strength, likely to a category four. | The hurricane is still over a hundred miles away, near the coast of Cuba. The Keys will be its first landfall after regaining strength, likely to a category four. |
| 4:54pm - This is US 1 north of Key Largo right now. #Irma pic.twitter.com/K8zFHjPQZe | 4:54pm - This is US 1 north of Key Largo right now. #Irma pic.twitter.com/K8zFHjPQZe |