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Next version
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Hurricane Irma: storm strikes Florida bringing floods and tornadoes – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | |
| 5.43pm BST | |
| 17:43 | |
| Local WSVN reporter Brian Entin is in downtown Miami, where waters are quickly rising in tandem with the gusting winds. | |
| Water still rising in downtown Miami along Brickell Avenue. Storm surge is intense. Neck deep in areas. @wsvn #HurrcaneIrma pic.twitter.com/RLhVWIkTzQ | |
| 5.31pm BST | 5.31pm BST |
| 17:31 | 17:31 |
| A dire warning from the National Weather Service about the south-west coast of Florida. | A dire warning from the National Weather Service about the south-west coast of Florida. |
| The service has also announced an extreme wind warning for Collier County: its radar detected winds stronger than 115mph, “associated with the eyewall” of the storm, are approaching the coast 10 miles south of Everglades City. Nearby are Naples, Marco Island, Chokoloskee, and Golden Gate Estates. | The service has also announced an extreme wind warning for Collier County: its radar detected winds stronger than 115mph, “associated with the eyewall” of the storm, are approaching the coast 10 miles south of Everglades City. Nearby are Naples, Marco Island, Chokoloskee, and Golden Gate Estates. |
| “The safest place to be,” the agency advises, “is in a reinforced interior room away from windows. Get under a table or other piece of sturdy furniture. Use mattresses, blankets or pillows to cover your head and body. Remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions.” | “The safest place to be,” the agency advises, “is in a reinforced interior room away from windows. Get under a table or other piece of sturdy furniture. Use mattresses, blankets or pillows to cover your head and body. Remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions.” |
| 12:00 PM: Negative surge ~3.5 FT at #Naples to become 10-15 FT above ground as #Irma moves in. Life-threatening rapid water rise imminent! pic.twitter.com/pbh76VXlqn | 12:00 PM: Negative surge ~3.5 FT at #Naples to become 10-15 FT above ground as #Irma moves in. Life-threatening rapid water rise imminent! pic.twitter.com/pbh76VXlqn |
| 5.26pm BST | 5.26pm BST |
| 17:26 | 17:26 |
| Ten thousand national guard troops are on the way to Florida from around the US, officials say, to help with the recovery, though at the moment many emergency personnel are as trapped as everyone else by the deadly winds, flooding and surges. | Ten thousand national guard troops are on the way to Florida from around the US, officials say, to help with the recovery, though at the moment many emergency personnel are as trapped as everyone else by the deadly winds, flooding and surges. |
| Scott says the state and Fema have prepositioned assets, but that they also know that transport will be hard down the length of the state in the wake of the storm. He stresses that US-1 is the only road to the Florida Keys, and that the state wants to be as ready as possible to quickly reach the people trapped there. | Scott says the state and Fema have prepositioned assets, but that they also know that transport will be hard down the length of the state in the wake of the storm. He stresses that US-1 is the only road to the Florida Keys, and that the state wants to be as ready as possible to quickly reach the people trapped there. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.28pm BST | at 5.28pm BST |
| 5.20pm BST | 5.20pm BST |
| 17:20 | 17:20 |
| Florida governor: beware 15ft storm surges | Florida governor: beware 15ft storm surges |
| Florida governor Rick Scott is giving a noon briefing, with details about the Florida Keys, where reporters and officials have been almost entirely cut off from the mainland. | Florida governor Rick Scott is giving a noon briefing, with details about the Florida Keys, where reporters and officials have been almost entirely cut off from the mainland. |
| Seawater has flooded over US-1, the road connecting the archipelago to the peninsula, and the Keys have already recorded up to 12 inches of rain. South Florida should expect an additional eight to 15 inches of rain, he says. | Seawater has flooded over US-1, the road connecting the archipelago to the peninsula, and the Keys have already recorded up to 12 inches of rain. South Florida should expect an additional eight to 15 inches of rain, he says. |
| South-west Florida should expect huge and fast storm surges: up to 15 feet of impact above ground level. The Big Bend area will see surges of four to six feet, and Tampa will see a surge of five to eight feet – more than enough to move cars and as tall or taller than a person, with the force of brutal hurricane winds. “The storm surge comes after the strongest winds,” Scott warns, saying that when the wind dies down “do not think it’s safe to come out.” | South-west Florida should expect huge and fast storm surges: up to 15 feet of impact above ground level. The Big Bend area will see surges of four to six feet, and Tampa will see a surge of five to eight feet – more than enough to move cars and as tall or taller than a person, with the force of brutal hurricane winds. “The storm surge comes after the strongest winds,” Scott warns, saying that when the wind dies down “do not think it’s safe to come out.” |
| “The storm surge could rush in and kill you. You need to stay in a safe place.” | “The storm surge could rush in and kill you. You need to stay in a safe place.” |
| The storm surge could be before the storm or after the storm, depending on the winds and your location, Scott says. What’s certain is that it will surge on both coasts. | The storm surge could be before the storm or after the storm, depending on the winds and your location, Scott says. What’s certain is that it will surge on both coasts. |
| There have been tornadoes all across central and south Florida, and hurricane force winds will be felt today as far north as Tallahassee, the capital. “Take this deadly storm seriously. Stay safe,” he says. “Pray.” | There have been tornadoes all across central and south Florida, and hurricane force winds will be felt today as far north as Tallahassee, the capital. “Take this deadly storm seriously. Stay safe,” he says. “Pray.” |
| On Big Pine Key, Florida broadcaster Jim Edds has a brief moment of connection to the mainland. | On Big Pine Key, Florida broadcaster Jim Edds has a brief moment of connection to the mainland. |
| Shot a few min ago as the water level dropped enough for me to connect sat uplink #Irma pic.twitter.com/2jlCj1eGur | Shot a few min ago as the water level dropped enough for me to connect sat uplink #Irma pic.twitter.com/2jlCj1eGur |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.21pm BST | at 5.21pm BST |
| 5.05pm BST | 5.05pm BST |
| 17:05 | 17:05 |
| The National Hurricane Center has issued its noon advisory on hurricane Irma, “leaving the Florida Keys and headed for the south-west Florida coast”. | The National Hurricane Center has issued its noon advisory on hurricane Irma, “leaving the Florida Keys and headed for the south-west Florida coast”. |
| At a station at Fowey Rocks, off the coast of south-east Florida near Miami, the NWS has measured sustained winds of 75mph and a 87mph gust. At Pines Middle School, not far inland from Fort Lauderdale, the NWS had a report of a 109mph gust. | At a station at Fowey Rocks, off the coast of south-east Florida near Miami, the NWS has measured sustained winds of 75mph and a 87mph gust. At Pines Middle School, not far inland from Fort Lauderdale, the NWS had a report of a 109mph gust. |
| The storm is about 65 miles south south-east of Naples, and moving about 9mph. There are tornado warnings and watches across virtually three-fourths of Florida. | The storm is about 65 miles south south-east of Naples, and moving about 9mph. There are tornado warnings and watches across virtually three-fourths of Florida. |
| A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Florida and Georgia until 12 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/cnTAMUNp92 | A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Florida and Georgia until 12 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/cnTAMUNp92 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.14pm BST | at 5.14pm BST |
| 4.58pm BST | 4.58pm BST |
| 16:58 | 16:58 |
| In south-eastern Miami, a storm surge has pushed waves two to three inches deep into city blocks. The NWS predicts 2-4in of rain per hour, flash floods, and life-threatening wind to continue for hours yet. | In south-eastern Miami, a storm surge has pushed waves two to three inches deep into city blocks. The NWS predicts 2-4in of rain per hour, flash floods, and life-threatening wind to continue for hours yet. |
| This is Brickell in downtown Miami. Totally underwater. #HurrcaneIrma @wsvn w pic.twitter.com/Fc0GsBP1T5 | This is Brickell in downtown Miami. Totally underwater. #HurrcaneIrma @wsvn w pic.twitter.com/Fc0GsBP1T5 |
| 4.39pm BST | 4.39pm BST |
| 16:39 | 16:39 |
| In Naples, on Florida’s west coast, Ed Pilkington is reporting from the path of the storm as it churns north. Irma is pulling out the sea around Tampa, St Petersburg and Naples – the eerie withdrawal before the surges – and its gusts are already ripping apart buildings, signs, poles, and trees. | In Naples, on Florida’s west coast, Ed Pilkington is reporting from the path of the storm as it churns north. Irma is pulling out the sea around Tampa, St Petersburg and Naples – the eerie withdrawal before the surges – and its gusts are already ripping apart buildings, signs, poles, and trees. |
| Last night I made the two-hour dash across the state, which has to rank as one of the weirdest drives of my life – a bullet straight road cutting across the Everglades, dodging palm tree fronds scattered across the road, startling black vultures into the air, and passing only a couple of vehicles the entire 120-mile journey. | Last night I made the two-hour dash across the state, which has to rank as one of the weirdest drives of my life – a bullet straight road cutting across the Everglades, dodging palm tree fronds scattered across the road, startling black vultures into the air, and passing only a couple of vehicles the entire 120-mile journey. |
| We had been preparing to wake up to an intense storm here in Naples, a city of about 20,000 people in a wider metropolitan area of more than 300,000. But we woke up to a strange calm – if driving rain and trees shaking in the wind can be described as calm – explained by the fact that Irma has slowed in its northerly track to just 8mph and is now not expected to hit this area hard until this evening. | We had been preparing to wake up to an intense storm here in Naples, a city of about 20,000 people in a wider metropolitan area of more than 300,000. But we woke up to a strange calm – if driving rain and trees shaking in the wind can be described as calm – explained by the fact that Irma has slowed in its northerly track to just 8mph and is now not expected to hit this area hard until this evening. |
| An hour ago when I drove out in Naples Florence this was a functioning billboard. When I returned it was this pic.twitter.com/cL6omDPVOv | An hour ago when I drove out in Naples Florence this was a functioning billboard. When I returned it was this pic.twitter.com/cL6omDPVOv |
| Police vehicles that had been ordered off the road last night are now back patrolling the streets, and several civilian pickup trucks are also driving around, giving the city the sense of normality. But that shouldn’t lead to a false sense of security. | Police vehicles that had been ordered off the road last night are now back patrolling the streets, and several civilian pickup trucks are also driving around, giving the city the sense of normality. But that shouldn’t lead to a false sense of security. |
| When the hurricane does strike here it is anticipated to do so with up to 100-mph winds and with the capacity to cause a storm surge of up to 15ft – enough to flood the entire coastal zone of Naples and to bring the sea lapping around the evacuated hotel where I’m hunkered down. I for one have no intention of falling for it. | When the hurricane does strike here it is anticipated to do so with up to 100-mph winds and with the capacity to cause a storm surge of up to 15ft – enough to flood the entire coastal zone of Naples and to bring the sea lapping around the evacuated hotel where I’m hunkered down. I for one have no intention of falling for it. |
| Winds up, trees down in Naples, Florida. Eye of Irma now expected to hit us around 3.30pm pic.twitter.com/dEJqt5J1hc | Winds up, trees down in Naples, Florida. Eye of Irma now expected to hit us around 3.30pm pic.twitter.com/dEJqt5J1hc |
| 4.23pm BST | 4.23pm BST |
| 16:23 | 16:23 |
| Tampa mayor: 'we are ground zero' | Tampa mayor: 'we are ground zero' |
| Tampa’s mayor, Bob Buckhorn, has delivered a stark warning online for everyone in one of Florida’s most densely populated regions. Buckhorn has announced a 6pm mandatory curfew. | Tampa’s mayor, Bob Buckhorn, has delivered a stark warning online for everyone in one of Florida’s most densely populated regions. Buckhorn has announced a 6pm mandatory curfew. |
| “We know we are ground zero for this storm. We have avoided it for 90 winds but our time has come to be ready,” he wrote on Twitter. “We are about to get punched in the face by this storm.” | “We know we are ground zero for this storm. We have avoided it for 90 winds but our time has come to be ready,” he wrote on Twitter. “We are about to get punched in the face by this storm.” |
| Buckhorn explained that as the storm truly grips south Florida, authorities will be paralyzed to help. “If you are out on the streets after 6pm we will direct you to get inside. We are taking this curfew very seriously,” he wrote. “We will not be able to come help you if the winds are sustained at 40mph or greater. We cannot put our first responders at risk.” | Buckhorn explained that as the storm truly grips south Florida, authorities will be paralyzed to help. “If you are out on the streets after 6pm we will direct you to get inside. We are taking this curfew very seriously,” he wrote. “We will not be able to come help you if the winds are sustained at 40mph or greater. We cannot put our first responders at risk.” |
| These are the final hours to act, he added: “We could potentially take a direct hit in the Tampa Area. Take the time now to secure objects in your yard so they don’t become projectiles. The curfew will help us do our jobs to get in and clean up the debris. And @TampaElectric needs to get in to restore power.” | These are the final hours to act, he added: “We could potentially take a direct hit in the Tampa Area. Take the time now to secure objects in your yard so they don’t become projectiles. The curfew will help us do our jobs to get in and clean up the debris. And @TampaElectric needs to get in to restore power.” |
| We are going to have a lot of friends and neighbors who need our help, let’s look out for each other and we will get through this.” | We are going to have a lot of friends and neighbors who need our help, let’s look out for each other and we will get through this.” |
| 11:04 AM: Eye of #Irma heading towards the SW #Florida coast. Everyone needs to remain sheltered in place. pic.twitter.com/S0t7vQdxXX | 11:04 AM: Eye of #Irma heading towards the SW #Florida coast. Everyone needs to remain sheltered in place. pic.twitter.com/S0t7vQdxXX |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.26pm BST | at 4.26pm BST |
| 4.13pm BST | 4.13pm BST |
| 16:13 | 16:13 |
| In eerie, parallel scenes at Tampa Bay, Fort Myers, and Key Largo, Irma’s extraordinary power is sucking back the ocean itself before storm surges crash the waves over land again. | In eerie, parallel scenes at Tampa Bay, Fort Myers, and Key Largo, Irma’s extraordinary power is sucking back the ocean itself before storm surges crash the waves over land again. |
| On the Keys, video shows soggy, desolate expanses that only hours ago were beneath docks and boats, and that may yet flood with almost no warning. | On the Keys, video shows soggy, desolate expanses that only hours ago were beneath docks and boats, and that may yet flood with almost no warning. |
| #Tampa Bay is being pushed out right now, as soon as those winds change that water is going to surge back in! #Irma pic.twitter.com/k7piE301mX | #Tampa Bay is being pushed out right now, as soon as those winds change that water is going to surge back in! #Irma pic.twitter.com/k7piE301mX |
| Wow! Fort Myers beach almost looks drained...water going out due to strong offshore winds #TrackingIrma pic.twitter.com/ZF9yfybP9h | Wow! Fort Myers beach almost looks drained...water going out due to strong offshore winds #TrackingIrma pic.twitter.com/ZF9yfybP9h |
| Eerie scene in Key Largo, Florida as ocean recedes amid Hurricane #Irma, leaving boat sitting on dry land https://t.co/5Kz3EN1ESV pic.twitter.com/Gkmp3mad09 | Eerie scene in Key Largo, Florida as ocean recedes amid Hurricane #Irma, leaving boat sitting on dry land https://t.co/5Kz3EN1ESV pic.twitter.com/Gkmp3mad09 |
| 4.09pm BST | 4.09pm BST |
| 16:09 | 16:09 |
| Richard Luscombe is reporting from Miami, which along with other sections of south-east Florida had an anxious night of whistling gusts and tornado warnings. | Richard Luscombe is reporting from Miami, which along with other sections of south-east Florida had an anxious night of whistling gusts and tornado warnings. |
| It was a rough night in Miami and other areas of South Florida, where there was little sleep for those of us listening to hurricane-force gusts howling behind storm shutters and the roar of the wind complementing the crashing thunderstorms and lightning. | It was a rough night in Miami and other areas of South Florida, where there was little sleep for those of us listening to hurricane-force gusts howling behind storm shutters and the roar of the wind complementing the crashing thunderstorms and lightning. |
| Even if you did manage to nod off, you were quickly awakened by the terrifying high-pitched alarm of your mobile phone, transmitting yet another urgent tornado warning from the National Weather Service urging residents to seek shelter in an interior room immediately. | Even if you did manage to nod off, you were quickly awakened by the terrifying high-pitched alarm of your mobile phone, transmitting yet another urgent tornado warning from the National Weather Service urging residents to seek shelter in an interior room immediately. |
| Such warnings came several times during the night, and it was a challenge rousing our sleepy eight- and 10-year-old sons and marshalling them to immediate safety into a tiny, claustrophobic closet while avoiding filling them with panic. Each warning was in effect for 15 minutes or so before the threat was deemed to have passed, but more than once a warning was superseded by another. | Such warnings came several times during the night, and it was a challenge rousing our sleepy eight- and 10-year-old sons and marshalling them to immediate safety into a tiny, claustrophobic closet while avoiding filling them with panic. Each warning was in effect for 15 minutes or so before the threat was deemed to have passed, but more than once a warning was superseded by another. |
| The danger of tornadoes comes from Irma’s feeder bands of storms, which have been swirling over our part of the state since the eye of the hurricane edged away from the coast of Cuba on Saturday. The threat will exist for several hours yet, into Sunday night. | The danger of tornadoes comes from Irma’s feeder bands of storms, which have been swirling over our part of the state since the eye of the hurricane edged away from the coast of Cuba on Saturday. The threat will exist for several hours yet, into Sunday night. |
| We’ve been through this routine before, notably during Hurricane Wilma in 2005 that scored a direct hit on our part of the Sunshine State and killed 61 people. But we didn’t have kids to worry about back then. | We’ve been through this routine before, notably during Hurricane Wilma in 2005 that scored a direct hit on our part of the Sunshine State and killed 61 people. But we didn’t have kids to worry about back then. |
| Storm surge flooding of 1-2 ft along the #Miami River just west of downtown. #HuricaneIrma #Irma #Flwx #Irma2017 pic.twitter.com/6UFyVrl000 | Storm surge flooding of 1-2 ft along the #Miami River just west of downtown. #HuricaneIrma #Irma #Flwx #Irma2017 pic.twitter.com/6UFyVrl000 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.37pm BST | at 4.37pm BST |