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Hurricane Irma: Florida faces 15ft sea surges and tornadoes as storm inches closer – latest updates
Hurricane Irma: 'Life threatening storm surge expected in the Florida Keys' – latest updates
(about 1 hour later)
4.57am BST
04:57
Some very practical advice from a Florida sheriff.
To clarify, DO NOT shoot weapons @ #Irma. You won't make it turn around & it will have very dangerous side effectshttps://t.co/CV4Y9OJknv
4.54am BST
04:54
Irma is expected to rip through Florida’s southern archipelago on Sunday morning as a Category 4 storm, the second-highest designation on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Wind gusts near hurricane force began to batter the Florida Keys late on Saturday, the National Hurricane Center said.
4.52am BST
04:52
Amid urgent warnings from state officials to evacuate before it was too late, downtown Miami was all but abandoned on Saturday. Sheets of rain swept through the deserted city of 400,000 people, forming large puddles in empty streets that are usually filled with tour buses and taxis.
The wind sent a construction crane spinning on the roof of the Miami Worldcenter, a billion dollar project near the home of the Miami Heat basketball team and the city’s performing arts centre.
On Florida’s west coast, resident Charley Ball said he expected a storm surge to completely engulf the island of Sanibel where he lives.
“Just left the island and said goodbye to everything I own,” said Ball, 62.
4.46am BST
04:46
From the State Department: As Hurricane Irma moves through the Caribbean, President Trump has issued emergency declarations for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Puerto Rico. A major disaster declaration has also been issued for the US Virgin Islands. A hurricane warning is in effect for central and southern Florida and the Florida Keys.
Updated
at 4.47am BST
4.40am BST
04:40
The window for people in evacuation zones to flee was drawing to a close on Saturday, officials said, warning that gas stations would soon be without fuel and bridges would be closed in some areas.
Updated
at 4.42am BST
4.38am BST
04:38
Officials in Florida have ordered a total of 6.3 million people, or about a third of the state’s population, to evacuate, creating massive traffic jams on highways and overcrowding shelters.
In Palm Beach, President Donald Trump’s waterfront Mar-a-Lago estate was under evacuation order.
4.37am BST
04:37
In Cuba, the destruction along the north central coast was similar to that suffered by other Caribbean islands over the last week as Irma plowed into Ciego de Avila province.
Cubans walked through ankle-deep water in Caibarien, a fishing town where streets were flooded and covered in seaweed. Elsewhere, winds toppled trees and utility polls or ripped apart roofs.
It was the first time the eye of a Category 5 storm had made landfall in Cuba since 1932, state media said, and the island’s Communist government ordered the evacuation of more than a million people from its path.
4.36am BST
04:36
There is an update on the power supply situation. A total of 9 million people in Florida may lose power, some for weeks, according to the Florida Power & Light Co.
4.32am BST
04:32
Catastrophe modelling firm AIR Worldwide said Irma could cause insurance losses of between $15 billion and $50 billion in the United States.
4.23am BST
04:23
Life threatening storm surge
The National Hurricane Center has issued an alert saying: Life threatening storm surge expected in the Florida Keys and the west coast of Florida.
Updated
at 4.26am BST
4.20am BST
04:20
Some of those who have fled Florida are very pessimistic about what they will be returning to once Hurricane Irma subsides. Tom Durr, a 66-year-old retired physician and his wife, Lorraine, fled their house in Englewood, between Fort Myers and Sarasota near where the eye of the hurricane is forecast to makes landfall.
The left for a small farm they own in North Carolina on Tuesday, but Durr told Reuters he does not expect much to be left when they return.
“It will be a nice waterfront lot in sunny Florida with no house, no trees, no cars, no boats and an amazing view of devastation as far as you can see,” he said.
3.39am BST
3.39am BST
03:39
03:39
The US National Weather Service says the first hurricane-force wind gust has been recorded in the Florida Keys as Irma inches closer to the state.
The US National Weather Service says the first hurricane-force wind gust has been recorded in the Florida Keys as Irma inches closer to the state.
The weather service says the Smith Shoal Light station recorded a 74mph (119kmh) wind gust on Saturday night.
The weather service says the Smith Shoal Light station recorded a 74mph (119kmh) wind gust on Saturday night.
The centre of Irma is headed toward the Keys and has sustained winds of 120mph (193.11kmh).
The centre of Irma is headed toward the Keys and has sustained winds of 120mph (193.11kmh).
2.55am BST
2.55am BST
02:55
02:55
Florida Governor Rick Scott says at least 76,000 people are without power as Irma unleashes winds and rain on the state.
Florida Governor Rick Scott says at least 76,000 people are without power as Irma unleashes winds and rain on the state.
Scott said on Saturday night that the number of outages is expected to grow as Irma moves closer to the state.
Scott said on Saturday night that the number of outages is expected to grow as Irma moves closer to the state.
He warned people the storm is life-threatening.
He warned people the storm is life-threatening.
2.44am BST
02:44
Associated Press reports: Prime Minister William Marlin of St Maarten says about 1,600 tourists who were in the Dutch Caribbean territory have been evacuated and efforts are being made to move 1,200 more.
Marlin says many nations and people have offered help to St Maarten, but weather conditions will determine how this can be coordinated.
Authorities are still trying to determine the extent of damage to the island, but he said 28 police officers lost homes during Hurricanes Irma and Jose.
The prime minister said St Maarten remains under curfew and looting that took place immediately after the storm has subsided.
Updated
at 2.49am BST
2.37am BST
02:37
Winds near hurricane force in Florida, says USNHC
The US national hurricane centre says wind gusts “near hurricane strength” have been recorded in the Florida Keys as Irma moves closer to the state.
Marathon reported a wind gust of 71mph (114kmh) and sustained winds of 51mph (82kmh). Irma is about 105 miles (170km) southeast of Key West. It has winds of 125 mph (200kmh).
2.23am BST
02:23
Hurricane Irma uprooted trees and tore off roofs in Cuba on Saturday with 125mph (200kmh) winds that damaged hotels in the island’s best-known beach resorts and forced evacuations as far along the coast as low-lying areas of the capital Havana.
Power was out and mobile phone service was spotty in many regions as Irma neared the end of a 200 mile (320km) trek westwards along the top of the island. It was forecast to head north towards Florida in the evening.
In the fishing town of Caibarien, residents swept mud from beachside homes after a storm surge drove a metre of seawater up the shore. In streets carpeted with fresh green seaweed as the water receded, people said it was the strongest cyclone ever to hit the town.
“Sheets of zinc that came flying into our backyard also damaged the kitchen wall and we lost many roof tiles,” said Angel Coya, 52, adding he was optimistic that Cuba’s communist government would help repair the damage. “We have to keep on.”
Irma’s turn northward was expected to occur around 150 miles (240km) east of the capital. Nevertheless, authorities shut off power in large parts of the city and evacuated around 10,000 people from central Havana near the Malecon seawall because of fears of flooding from the storm surge.
By Saturday evening, the sea had penetrated two blocks over parts of the city’s historic seafront boulevard, and the waters were expected to advance further as the surge grew. Restaurants on the seaside drive pulled down their shutters and stacked sandbags.
Still, many Cubans expressed a sense of relief after the eye of the first Category 5 storm to make landfall on the island since 1932 passed over the northern keys, just grazing the mainland with its full force.
“Honestly, I expected worse. I thought I would come back and find the roof gone,” said Yolexis Domingo, 39, using a machete to hack the branches off a tree that fell in front of his house in Caibarien. “Still, it is going to be a while before I can come back to live here. The water came up to a metre high and some of the roof flew off.”
2.16am BST
02:16
Irma clears Cuban coast
The centre of Hurricane Irma has now cleared the Cuban coast and entered the Florida Straits, where bathtub-warm water of nearly 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius) will enable the storm to intensify.
Irma had fallen to a Category 3 storm with 125 mph winds, but National Hurricane Centre spokesman and meteorologist Dennis Feltgen says it’s already showing signs at high altitudes of regaining its previous powerhouse strength.
And because this storm is more than 350 miles (563km) wide, the Miami area is not in the clear just because Irma’s eye is shifting to the west.
Forecasts say Irma will maintain hurricane strength well into Georgia on Monday.
2.01am BST
02:01
Current forecast for storm inundation. Red indicates "greater than 9 feet" above ground level – forecasts are for up to 15 feet. #Irma pic.twitter.com/MdTUWGF9Sy
1.37am BST
01:37
The latest advisories, just issued by the US National Hurricane Centre contain no changes from the earlier ones, with all existing warnings remaining in place.
Jose has sparked tropical storm warnings for the islands of Saint Martin and Saint Bathelemy.
Hurricane Irma is continuing to spark the following warnings:
Storm surge warnings for the South Santee River around the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys and Tampa Bay.
Hurricane warnings for the Florida peninsula, Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee and Florida Bay.
Continued hurricane warnings for Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Matanzas, and Havana.
And hurricane warnings for Andros Island, Bimini, and Grand Bahama.
The National Hurricane Centre reminds people that a Hurricane Warning means: “Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.”
And it gives the following explanation of the storm surge warnings:
“A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.”
Updated
at 2.26am BST
1.18am BST
01:18
Islands in the Caribbean already devestated by hurricane Irma are now facing impacts from hurricane Jose.
Although Jose is weaker, and moving away from the Islands, strong winds are likely to hit Peurto Rico and possibly The Dominican Republic as early as Sunday morning local time.
As we’ve reported, the threat of further tropical-storm-force winds is hampering aid efforts after Irma, and with debris scattered from earlier damage, additional strong winds could be more dangerous than they would otherwise be.
Here's the expected and possible tropical-storm-force caused winds Jose, for islands already devastated by Irma: pic.twitter.com/SgLhrVZ19k
12.51am BST
00:51
Richard Luscombe
The next big threat for those of us sheltering from Hurricane Irma in South Florida is a tornado.
My mobile phone has been screaming its high-pitched alarm every 10 minutes over the last hour or so with dire warnings from the National Weather Serviceto take cover NOW because of tornadic thunderstorms in the area.
Local TV reports a tornado hit the ground in nearby Plantation within the last quarter-hour, and most of northern Broward County is under a tornado warning for at least the next 30 minutes.
It’s a scary time. Shelter for us consist of four of us, including my two sons aged 10 and 8, squeezing into a 5ft x 5ft interior closet with no windows, away from exterior walls and doors. My youngest has his teddy bear and some chicken nuggets for comfort.
The fact a tornado has actually struck nearby, instead of there just being the possibility of one, is sobering. It’s likely to be a long night in the closet with the kids.
The threat of tornados comes from thunderstorms in Hurricane Irma’s violent outer bands, which have been circling over Miami-Dade and Broward counties for most of the day as the storm moves ever closer.
There is likely to be plenty more to come in the next 24 hours.
12.37am BST
00:37
Trump on Irma: "Just get out of its way"
Donald Trump has told people still in Hurricane Irma’s path to “just get out of its way” and not worry about possessions.
The president was monitoring the storm’s advance on Florida – where he has his Mar-a-Lago estate – from the secluded Camp David presidential retreat near Washington.
“Property is replaceable but lives are not and safety has to come first,” Trump said at a cabinet meeting. “Don’t worry about it. Just get out of its way.”
Trump shared a brief video of his remarks at the meeting on Twitter.
This is a storm of enormous destructive power, and I ask everyone in the storm’s path to heed ALL instructions from government officials. pic.twitter.com/nJfM2Sdme1
He said the administration was monitoring the situation “around the clock” and was in “constant communications” with governors and other officials from the affected areas.
“We’ve never seen anything like this,” he said, pledging as he did after Hurricane Harvey that recovery and rebuilding will happen quickly.Read more about what impact Irma could have on Trump’s estate here.
12.33am BST
00:33
Michael Slezak
With night quickly approaching in Florida, the liveblog has been handed over to me and the team in Sydney, Australia, who will keep you updated for the next several hours.
As Florida braces itself for the full impact of hurrricane Irma, Cuba is reeling from its effects after the eye of the first Category 5 storm to make landfall on the island since 1932 passed over, just grazing the mainland with its full force.
News agencies are reporting the hurricane uprooted trees and tore off roofs in Cuba on Saturday with 125-mile-per-hour (200-km per hour) winds that damaged hotels in the island’s best-known beach resorts and forced evacuations as far along the coast as low-lying areas of the capital Havana.
Power was out and cellphone service was spotty in many regions as Irma neared the end of a 200-mile (320-km) trek westwards along the top of the island. It was forecast to head north toward Florida in the evening.
Authorities shut off power in large parts of Havana and evacuated some 10,000 people from central Havana near the famous Malecon seawall because of fears of flooding from the storm surge.
By Saturday evening, the sea had penetrated two blocks over parts of the city’s historic seafront boulevard, and the waters were expected to advance farther as the surge grew.
Reuters reported that many Cubans expressed a sense of relief after it hit.
“Honestly, I expected worse. I thought I would come back and find the roof gone,” Yolexis Domingo, 39 told Reuters. “Still, it is going to be a while before I can come back to live here. The water came up to a meter high and some of the roof flew off.”
