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Hurricane Irma: storm makes landfall near Naples with life-threatening surges – live Hurricane Irma: storm makes landfall near Naples with life-threatening surges – live
(35 minutes later)
9.43pm BST
21:43
Naples Municipal Airport has reported a gust of 142mph at 4.34pm, near reports of 135mph gust and sustained winds of 93mph – the most powerful recorded gusts on the mainland.
In Naples, Ed Pilkington is recording what he can of the storm, including the eerie keening of the wind and all the sounds it’s kicking up inside his hotel.
We're about 20 minutes into the worst of Irma and I can officially report: this hurricane has my respect. The whole building is groaning pic.twitter.com/czZP07VRpT
9.35pm BST
21:35
Scenes from the storm’s eyewall in Naples, floods in Miami, and Tampa Bay emptied of its waters, pushed out by winds that, when they turn, will bring it rushing back.
9.30pm BST
21:30
Ed Pilkington
Ed Pilkington is in Naples, Florida, as the eyewall of hurricane Irma descends on the city.
The full might of Irma is now right in front of our eyes outside the window in Naples, Florida. It came on very quickly as the eye wall struck.
About 15 minutes ago we were seeing the trees being tossed around by violent winds.
Then about 10 minutes ago the trees started to be obscured by driving rain that was moving fast and almost horizontally across our window in great bands.
Right now it’s got even worse than that. You cannot see anything but whiteness. It’s like a snow blizzard. The rain is so thick it’s like a giant white sheet shooting across at incredible speed.
And this comes before the sea starts to surge and the flooding starts.
Irma pummeling our evacuated hotel as eye wall hits us in Naples, Fl pic.twitter.com/X7vq8Qwc10
9.25pm BST
21:25
Police on Marco Island, the site of Irma’s second landfall on Sunday, have tweeted out a photo from almost the center of the storm.
pic.twitter.com/ww9XBu9CPB
9.19pm BST
21:19
In Naples, people can do little but watch the gigantic eyewall of the storm move over the city.
Irma has slowed to a maximum sustained windspeed of 115mph, its eye a mere 10 miles from Naples. The National Hurricane Center is detecting gusts of up to 155mph in the area. At 4pm it’s up to 97mph.
High winds blowing torrential rain horizontally as Irma's eye wall batters Naples pic.twitter.com/7I4GrNAGec
Updated
at 9.25pm BST
9.08pm BST9.08pm BST
21:0821:08
Hurricane Irma is battering all of south Florida, its eye wall currently crashing over Naples, on the west coast, where Ed Pilkington is reporting for the Guardian.Hurricane Irma is battering all of south Florida, its eye wall currently crashing over Naples, on the west coast, where Ed Pilkington is reporting for the Guardian.
Full force of Irma now being felt in Naples. 130mph wind reported nearby. Eye will be with us soon pic.twitter.com/vHCouQoAhbFull force of Irma now being felt in Naples. 130mph wind reported nearby. Eye will be with us soon pic.twitter.com/vHCouQoAhb
8.49pm BST8.49pm BST
20:4920:49
Irma makes landfall on Marco IslandIrma makes landfall on Marco Island
Hurricane Irma has made landfall on Marco Island, the National Hurricane Center has announced, with life-threatening storm surges of 10ft to 15ft feared there, Naples, and in other low-lying sections of Florida’s west coast.Hurricane Irma has made landfall on Marco Island, the National Hurricane Center has announced, with life-threatening storm surges of 10ft to 15ft feared there, Naples, and in other low-lying sections of Florida’s west coast.
Irma first made landfall on Cudjoe Key at 9.10am, a category four storm. It made second landfall at 3.35pm on Marco Island, about 15 miles from Naples.Irma first made landfall on Cudjoe Key at 9.10am, a category four storm. It made second landfall at 3.35pm on Marco Island, about 15 miles from Naples.
With sustained winds of 120mph, the category 3 storm is moving northward up the coast toward Fort Myers and Tampa Bay, after barreling across the Florida Keys and raking the entirety of south Florida with blasts of stinging, near horizontal rain, sudden tornadoes, storm surges and winds as fast as 109mph.With sustained winds of 120mph, the category 3 storm is moving northward up the coast toward Fort Myers and Tampa Bay, after barreling across the Florida Keys and raking the entirety of south Florida with blasts of stinging, near horizontal rain, sudden tornadoes, storm surges and winds as fast as 109mph.
The storm has cut off the Florida Keys, overwhelming towns and the only road to the mainland with storm surges believed to have reached 10ft to 14ft. Authorities said no one would should attempt to return to the county until inspectors can reach its bridge. An unknown number of people are trapped on the islands, where more surges threaten.The storm has cut off the Florida Keys, overwhelming towns and the only road to the mainland with storm surges believed to have reached 10ft to 14ft. Authorities said no one would should attempt to return to the county until inspectors can reach its bridge. An unknown number of people are trapped on the islands, where more surges threaten.
Rain and storm surges have overwhelmed parts of downtown Miami, especially in the Brickell neighborhood, and two construction cranes have collapsed on to buildings. Tornadoes have sliced through sections of eastern south Florida and winds across the state have toppled trees, live power lines, street signs, and billboards.Rain and storm surges have overwhelmed parts of downtown Miami, especially in the Brickell neighborhood, and two construction cranes have collapsed on to buildings. Tornadoes have sliced through sections of eastern south Florida and winds across the state have toppled trees, live power lines, street signs, and billboards.
More than two million people have lost power, more than 70,000 are in shelters, and police and emergency personnel have taken to shelters. Several cities ordered residents to boil all their tap water, for fear of contamination in the public supply.More than two million people have lost power, more than 70,000 are in shelters, and police and emergency personnel have taken to shelters. Several cities ordered residents to boil all their tap water, for fear of contamination in the public supply.
On the west coast, the storm temporarily drained Tampa Bay. National Weather Service officials delivered an urgent warning about a “catastrophic storm surge” for Naples, Marco Island and Everglades City. Tampa itself was warned of surges of 5ft to 8ft, sweeping in unpredictably and able to carry off people, cars and mobile homes.On the west coast, the storm temporarily drained Tampa Bay. National Weather Service officials delivered an urgent warning about a “catastrophic storm surge” for Naples, Marco Island and Everglades City. Tampa itself was warned of surges of 5ft to 8ft, sweeping in unpredictably and able to carry off people, cars and mobile homes.
“We know we are ground zero for this storm,” Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn said. “We have avoided it for 90 years but our time has come to be ready.”“We know we are ground zero for this storm,” Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn said. “We have avoided it for 90 years but our time has come to be ready.”
Governor Rick Scott has warned people repeatedly to stay in shelters until authorities can confidently give an all-clear. The storm has killed at least 27 people on its course across the Caribbean, from a category 5 giant to one of the most dangerous category 3 storms in US history, leaving whole islands with the appearance of bombed out cities.Governor Rick Scott has warned people repeatedly to stay in shelters until authorities can confidently give an all-clear. The storm has killed at least 27 people on its course across the Caribbean, from a category 5 giant to one of the most dangerous category 3 storms in US history, leaving whole islands with the appearance of bombed out cities.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.52pm BST at 9.17pm BST
8.45pm BST8.45pm BST
20:4520:45
More than two million in Florida have lost power, according Florida Power & Light, the main utility service in the state, as hurricane Irma continues to wipe out power lines and batter infrastructure.More than two million in Florida have lost power, according Florida Power & Light, the main utility service in the state, as hurricane Irma continues to wipe out power lines and batter infrastructure.
Several cities and counties, including Hollywood and Broward County, have ordered residents to boil water, out of concern that flood waters – often a stew of rain, seawater and sewage – have seeped into the public supply.Several cities and counties, including Hollywood and Broward County, have ordered residents to boil water, out of concern that flood waters – often a stew of rain, seawater and sewage – have seeped into the public supply.
8.37pm BST8.37pm BST
20:3720:37
Hurricane Irma is battering both sides of the Florida coast with hurricane force winds. At 3.32pm the Naples Municipal Airport reported to the National Weather Service 83mph sustained winds and gusts up to 115mph.Hurricane Irma is battering both sides of the Florida coast with hurricane force winds. At 3.32pm the Naples Municipal Airport reported to the National Weather Service 83mph sustained winds and gusts up to 115mph.
Even on Atlantic #Florida coast #hurricane force winds are occurring. @UMiamiRSMAS w/ winds of 101mph earlier!Link:https://t.co/Q7pUpcyHbF pic.twitter.com/HI55rRG3FOEven on Atlantic #Florida coast #hurricane force winds are occurring. @UMiamiRSMAS w/ winds of 101mph earlier!Link:https://t.co/Q7pUpcyHbF pic.twitter.com/HI55rRG3FO
8.14pm BST8.14pm BST
20:1420:14
Marco Island, under the eyewall of the hurricane, has just reported a 130mph gust, according to the National Weather Service.Marco Island, under the eyewall of the hurricane, has just reported a 130mph gust, according to the National Weather Service.
8.06pm BST8.06pm BST
20:0620:06
As of 3pm, the center of Hurricane Irma is about 20 miles away from Naples, the National Hurricane Center reports, with sustained winds of 120mph. The storm’s eyewall is over Marco Island.As of 3pm, the center of Hurricane Irma is about 20 miles away from Naples, the National Hurricane Center reports, with sustained winds of 120mph. The storm’s eyewall is over Marco Island.
Naples Municipal Airport reports sustained winds of 55mph and gusts up to 82mph. Across the state, Miami is awash in thick, spitting rain driven almost horizontally by the wind, with winds of similar force. Parts of downtown Miami are underwater in storm surges.Naples Municipal Airport reports sustained winds of 55mph and gusts up to 82mph. Across the state, Miami is awash in thick, spitting rain driven almost horizontally by the wind, with winds of similar force. Parts of downtown Miami are underwater in storm surges.
STAY AWAY FROM THE WATER! Water levels from #Irma storm surge will rise rapidly. Latest storm surge forecast https://t.co/XYu7U5htvr pic.twitter.com/wXggCR8SP6STAY AWAY FROM THE WATER! Water levels from #Irma storm surge will rise rapidly. Latest storm surge forecast https://t.co/XYu7U5htvr pic.twitter.com/wXggCR8SP6
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.15pm BSTat 8.15pm BST
8.01pm BST8.01pm BST
20:0120:01
A second construction crane has broken in downtown Miami, local news reports, as its boom snapped off its tower and landed on the unfinished building.A second construction crane has broken in downtown Miami, local news reports, as its boom snapped off its tower and landed on the unfinished building.
In a statement, the building’s developer, PMG, said its priority was safety. “We will have a crew over to secure the crane as soon as the weather permits.”In a statement, the building’s developer, PMG, said its priority was safety. “We will have a crew over to secure the crane as soon as the weather permits.”
There are about two dozen construction cranes around the city, and authorities urged people who live near them to go to shelters or friends’ rather than stay home.There are about two dozen construction cranes around the city, and authorities urged people who live near them to go to shelters or friends’ rather than stay home.
pic.twitter.com/F8qDpu1Huhpic.twitter.com/F8qDpu1Huh
As in downtown Miami, a mix of rain and seawater have covered the roads of Hollywood, Florida. With strong sustained winds and even more powerful gusts, the cities look like they have rapids flowing through their streets.As in downtown Miami, a mix of rain and seawater have covered the roads of Hollywood, Florida. With strong sustained winds and even more powerful gusts, the cities look like they have rapids flowing through their streets.
Nasty storm surge along #Brickell Bay drive. @nbc6 #Irma pic.twitter.com/OCcXhMZw99Nasty storm surge along #Brickell Bay drive. @nbc6 #Irma pic.twitter.com/OCcXhMZw99
Hollywood Blvd, right now -- limbs/branches don --water rising, getting very close to homes .... pic.twitter.com/10YXmkuX1rHollywood Blvd, right now -- limbs/branches don --water rising, getting very close to homes .... pic.twitter.com/10YXmkuX1r
7.40pm BST7.40pm BST
19:4019:40
French President Emmanuel Macron will go to the devastated territory of St Martin on Tuesday, the AP reports.French President Emmanuel Macron will go to the devastated territory of St Martin on Tuesday, the AP reports.
French authorities have said at least eight people were killed as a result of hurricane Irene, and that about 95% of the building’s on the French-administered side were destroyed. More than 1,100 military, healthcare, and relief personnel have been sent to the island, along with tens of thousands of rations. France has also sent police, in response to reports of widespread looting.French authorities have said at least eight people were killed as a result of hurricane Irene, and that about 95% of the building’s on the French-administered side were destroyed. More than 1,100 military, healthcare, and relief personnel have been sent to the island, along with tens of thousands of rations. France has also sent police, in response to reports of widespread looting.
7.30pm BST
19:30
The National Hurricane Center has just issued an “urgent” message for the area of Naples and Marco Island: “water levels from storm surge to rise rapidly”.
“With the passage of the eye of Irma during the next couple of hours, the wind direction will shift to onshore, causing water levels along the southwest coast of Florida to rapidly rise in a matter of minutes. MOVE AWAY FROM THE WATER! Life-threatening storm surge inundation of 10 to 15 feet above ground level is expected in this area.”
7.18pm BST
19:18
Irma slows to category three
Hurricane Irma has been downgraded to a category three storm with sustained 120mph winds, and is steadily approaching landfall on Florida’s gulf coast.
The storm is about 35 miles south of Naples. It has drained massive amounts of water from Tampa Bay ahead of storm surges, cut off the Florida Keys, and put swaths of downtown Miami underwater. Tornadoes have cut across much of central and east Florida, including one formed in the last hour near Fort Lauderdale airport.
The National Hurricane Center’s 2pm advisory warns people not to underestimate the storm, which will “remain a powerful hurricane while it moves near or along the west coast of Florida”.
The NHC’s Atlantic Office has just issued an all-caps warning for everyone on the state’s western coast: “MOVE AWAY FROM THE WATER!”
Stay away from Brickell in Downtown Miami. The water is NOT receding. @wsvn #HurrcaneIrma pic.twitter.com/gIeFU82X8c
Updated
at 7.21pm BST
7.11pm BST
19:11
Florida police in Broward county have shot one attempted burglar and arrested a second, the AP reports.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Sunday that the homeowners in Weston were out of town but saw the burglars remotely inside the house through a home surveillance system.
Deputies responded shortly before 3am and one of the two juvenile males was shot outside the home. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The other person was arrested.
Their names were not immediately released.
Updated
at 7.14pm BST
7.07pm BST
19:07
Jessica Glenza
Jessica Glenza is in her childhood home of St Petersburg, near Tampa Bay, where storm surges are expected to reach five to eight feet. Tampa’s mayor said earlier Sunday that he intends to enforce a strict curfew to get people inside before the storm makes land. When it does, police will be unable to help anyone until conditions improve.
The storm is still 190 miles south of the mouth of Tampa Bay, the body of water between Pinellas county (where I am) and Hillsborough County (where Tampa is).High tide is expected just after 5am in Tampa Bay, and the worst of the storm is expected around and after midnight.
It is difficult to say how many people have evacuated: people have clearly fled, but A many refused to leave. Only about one third of the houses are boarded up in our neighborhood, in part because of lack of supplies. Plywood was extremely difficult to find. Similarly, there is no nearby gas.
Police are no longer allowing people to go onto barrier islands in Pinellas, such as Treasure Island, even if they live there. Curfews have been issued for St Petersburg and Tampa, at 5pm and 6pm respectively.
Updated
at 7.42pm BST
7.03pm BST
19:03
Florida Keys county 'closed'
The south Florida county that includes the Florida Keys and the state’s south-west extremities up to Everglades City, has “closed”, according to the government’s social media accounts.
Governor Rick Scott said earlier Sunday that US-1, the only road from the mainland to the islands, is underwater. He said that one of his highest priorities, after the storm finally breaks, is to get re-establish a supply lane to the Keys.
The NWS on Key West meanwhile has just reported that – based on its reading of a social media photo – the storm surge at Cudjoe Key was 10-14ft. “Photograph showed water nearing the base of a house on stilts, stated to be approximately 15 feet above ground level.”
Monroe County is closed until further notice. Evacuated residents do not return until further notice. More info to come. #hurricaneirma
6.44pm BST
18:44
Ed Pilkington is in Naples, Florida, reporting on the storm and directly in its path. The National Weather Service’s midday projections suggest the hurricane may make landfall there later today.
Even with Irma some 50 miles south-east of Naples, the winds are so strong that two windows have broken at his hotel, he says.
The eyewall, with strongest wind, & surge potential with #IRMA close to Naples/Marco Island. Coastal #Lee & #Charlotte cntys are next. #flwx pic.twitter.com/RZpnuKJpnu
6.40pm BST
18:40
Two Florida law enforcement officers have died in a traffic accident, the sheriff’s department has confirmed in Hardee County, east of Sarasota.
The officers were named as Julie Ann Bridges, a Hardee County deputy, and Joseph Ossman, a sergeant with the Florida department of corrections. In a statement, the governor’s office siad “the cause of the traffic accident remains under investigation and more details will be released by the Florida Highway Patrol”.
It’s not clear whether storm conditions were a factor in the accident. Around the Caribbean at least 25 people have been confirmed killed by the storm.
“I am heart broken to learn of the loss of these two individuals,” Governor Rick Scott said in the statement. “Our law enforcement and correctional officers work every day to keep Floridians safe. It is because of their work we are able to live in a state where people can raise their families safely. My heart goes out [to] their families and the entire law enforcement and correctional community.”
6.30pm BST
18:30
Though Florida’s east coast was spared a direct hit, conditions there remain extremely dangerous. The National Hurricane Center has just issued an advisory saying that Irma has encompassed all of south Florida, and Miami International reported a 92mph gust around 1pm.
This reporter’s mom is one of the millions of people just inland of the evacuation zones, in her case Boca Raton. The wind, she says, is a steady droning roar.
“It feels like a giant has grabbed and is shaking your house.”
The backyard is lined by a wooden fence. She can hear the wind whistling through its spaces, jangling its hinges, and the wood itself bang and clatter with the gusts.
She can’t see much of what’s happening outside the house because of metal storm shutters encasing its windows, but she can hear the blasts of rain whipped at weird angles by the wind – and she can hear the wind itself.
It doesn't look like much but it's taken out the power pic.twitter.com/pXDaDhCfcY
6.08pm BST
18:08
Naples is about to suffer the brunt of hurricane Irma’s force, the National Weather service warns, with the storm’s eye about 50 miles south of the city.
12:53 PM at #Naples sustained wind 48 mph gusting to 76 mph. 115+ mph winds on the way as eyewall moves in. Shelter in place! #Irma
5.49pm BST
17:49
Irma so far and what's next
Hurricane Irma made landfall at Cudjoe Key at 9.10am, with sustained winds of 130mph, the second category four hurricane to strike the mainland United States in two weeks. Seawater flooding over US-1 has cut off the Keys from the mainland, and a handful of images from the islands showed waters in buildings and over cars.
Tornadoes swept across swaths of south-eastern Florida, and gusts as strong as 100mph reported north of Miami. Rain and storm surges brought flooding into downtown Miami, and sustained winds approaching 45mph brought down a construction crane, trees and power lines. Police and emergency personnel took to shelters.
More than a 1.3 million people have lost power, and more than 70,000 are in shelters. About 6.5 million people were ordered to evacuate coastal areas all around the state, roughly a third of the state’s entire population.
Governor Rick Scott warned that south-west Florida could see imminent storm surges of 10-15ft above ground – breathtakingly fast waves as tall as a one-storey home. Tampa should expect surges as large as five feet, and south-eastern Florida surges of three to six feet, high enough to float cars or envelop a person. The Keys have recorded 12in of rain so far, and all of south Florida can expect another 8-15in.
Irma is expected to make a second landfall, this time on the mainland near Fort Myers, on Sunday evening. Meteorologists forecast a slight change in the storm’s path, saying that the city of St Petersburg is now more likely to suffer a direct hit than nearby Tampa. “We know we are ground zero for this storm,” mayor Bob Buckhorn said. “We have avoided it for 90 winds but our time has come to be ready.”
At least 25 confirmed dead around the Caribbean, including 11 on French St Martin, the US and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dutch St Maarten, Barbuda, and Anguilla.
The storm levelled whole towns in its path, hurtling trees and debris like missiles and bringing huge waves into homes, businesses and hotels. Survivors and relief workers who stepped out into towns of northern Cuba, the British Virgin Islands, Barbuda and other islands found whole homes and businesses gutted by the wind and water.
Hurricane Jose, also a category four storm, has shifted northward, creating hope in the eastern Caribbean that survivors might be spared a second hurricane in five days.