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What we know so far about Hurricane Irma What we know about Hurricane Irma's impact on Florida
(about 4 hours later)
Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida on Sunday, lashing the US state with record rainfall and winds of up to 130mph. As the Florida governor, Rick Scott, asked people to “pray for us”, here is what we know about the latest stages of the superstorm. As Florida wakes up to the destruction wreaked by Hurricane Irma, here is what we know about the latest stages of the storm:
Irma has moved north of the Tampa Bay area during the night and has been downgraded to a category one storm. It is still lashing central Florida and coastal regions and threatens to cause storm surges of up to 15ft (4.5m). Hurricane Irma is continuing to lash Florida as it moves north of Tampa, but is losing strength and is set to be downgraded to a tropical storm later on Monday. It was a category 4 storm when it first made landfall in the Florida Keys, but is now a category 1 hurricane, with sustained wind speeds of 75mph and is likely to reclassified as a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Massive amounts of water drained from Tampa Bay – suggesting possible storm surges. Surge warnings remain in place for much of the Gulf coast. The most immediate threat from the storm is the possibility of storm surges. The critical point could come at high tide, the NHC said, and bring up to 15ft (4.5 metres) of water flooding inland in the Tampa area. High tide is expected at St Petersburg at 5.30am.
The critical point could come at high tide, the USNHC said, and bring up to 15ft (4.5m) of water flooding inland in the Tampa area. High tide is expected at St Petersburg at 5.30am. Forecasters say they expect Irma’s centre to stay inland over Florida and then move into Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. It will weaken into a tropical storm over far northern Florida or southern Georgia on Monday as it speeds up .
As of 2am local time the storm was “weakening” as it moved north-east of Tampa. The hurricane warning has been changed to a tropical storm warning from Jupiter inlet southward to Bonita Beach, as well as for the Keys and Florida Bay. More than 4.2m homes are without power in Florida. A police officer and prison officer were killed in southern Florida in a car crash thought to have been caused by the hurricane. Miami International airport will remain closed until at least Tuesday. Three construction cranes have crashed to the ground in southern Florida.
The full extent of damage in Florida is not known although at least 3.3 million homes are without power in the state, with the prospect of more outages as Irma continues north. Miami International Airport will remain closed until at least Tuesday.
A warning from the national weather service (NWS) told people in the area to: “MOVE AWAY FROM THE WATER! Life-threatening storm surge inundation of 10 to 15 feet above ground level is expected in this area.”
An earlier such NWS advisory told people in Key West to “take action now to protect your life”. It said: “If you are here, please go to an interior room away from windows. Treat these imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching and move immediately to the safe room in your shelter.”
Donald 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.
Amid urgent warnings from state officials to evacuate before it was too late, downtown Miami was all but abandoned by Saturday. Extensive flooding was reported on Sunday, with tornado alerts and one twister confirmed. Two large construction cranes in Miami were broken by the storm.
In the Caribbean, the premier of the British Virgin Islands, Orlando Smith, has asked for immediate aid from the British government to get the territories back on their feet after being devastated by Irma last week. He said the situation was “critical” and called for a “comprehensive package” to rebuild the islands.In the Caribbean, the premier of the British Virgin Islands, Orlando Smith, has asked for immediate aid from the British government to get the territories back on their feet after being devastated by Irma last week. He said the situation was “critical” and called for a “comprehensive package” to rebuild the islands.
The clean-up operation is continuing in the Caribbean where it is thought 28 people have been killed. French president Emmanuel Macron has promised to visit the badly-hit French island of St Martin on Tuesday. Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said the death toll on the Dutch part of St. Martin had doubled to four, and that 70% of homes had been damaged or destroyed. The clean-up operation is continuing in the Caribbean, where it is thought 28 people have been killed.
The United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA) has criticised the response of the UK government as slow, urging it to “commit immediate resources” but also to develop the long-term economic self-sustainability of the territories. French president Emmanuel Macron has promised to visit the badly hit French island of St Martin on Tuesday. The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, said the death toll on the Dutch part of St Martin had doubled to four, and that 70% of homes had been damaged or destroyed.
The UK defence secretary, Michael Fallon, said the government’s response had been “as good [as that] of anyone else” and claimed France was now asking it for help. The UK foreign secretary, Boris Johnson ,has insisted Britain is doing all it can to help after facing fresh criticism from Britons stranded in the Caribbean. Johnson said 700 British troops were in the region, with UK police also arriving. The government has already set aside £32m in aid and will match public donations to the Red Cross appeal.
The Cuban capital, Havana, has flooded and 5,000 tourists have been evacuated after Irma raked the country’s north coast. President Trump issued emergency declarations for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Puerto Rico. A major disaster declaration has also been issued for the US Virgin Islands.
William Marlin, prime minister of the Dutch island 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. Amid urgent warnings from state officials to evacuate before it was too late, downtown Miami was all but abandoned by Saturday. Extensive flooding was reported on Sunday, with tornado alerts and one twister confirmed. Two large construction cranes in Miami were broken by the storm.
A Florida sheriff has advised people not to shoot at the hurricane as it could backfire.A Florida sheriff has advised people not to shoot at the hurricane as it could backfire.