2 AM FRIDAY UPDATE: The eye of Hurricane Irma is just north of Great Inagua Island as a Category 5 storm with wind speeds of 160 mph. Irma is tracking W/NW at 16 mph. There are no additions or changes to the list of Watches and Warnings at this time.
The next complete advisory is at 5 AM.
FURTHER UPDATES ON HURRICANE IRMA ARE BEING POSTED HERE
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11 PM THURSDAY UPDATE: Hurricane Watches have been upgraded to Hurricane Warnings for South Florida from Jupiter Inlet to Bonita Beach including the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee and Florida Bay. Specifically, the Hurricane Warning includes Collier, Glades and Hendry counties in Southwest Florida. Hurricane Watches have also been extended from Bonita Beach in Lee County to Ave Maria Island in Manatee County.
A Storm Surge Warning has also been issued for Coastal Collier county. A Storm Surge Watch has been extended from Bonita Beach north to Venice.
Maximum sustained winds in Irma have weakened slightly to 165 mph at the core. However, it is still a healthy category 5. No significant changes to the movement or track at this advisory.
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8 PM THURSDAY UPDATE: Irma remains a category 5 hurricane with winds of 175 mph, tracking WNW at 16 mph. A new forecast track will be provided in the 11 pm update.
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5PM THURSDAY UPDATE: Currently, Irma remains a category 5 hurricane with winds of 175 mph, tracking WNW at 16 mph. The official forecast track from the National Hurricane Center has shifted slightly to the west of the previous track. This change is more in-line with the latest European and GFS model track. A more westward shift increases the impacts in Southwest Florida. Hurricane force winds extend 70 miles from the center so it's becoming increasingly likely that parts of the region sees hurricane force winds (74 mph or above). The onset of tropical storm force winds are expected to begin as early as Saturday afternoon with conditions deteriorating overnight through Sunday morning, when landfall is expected.
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2PM THURSDAY UPDATE: Maximum sustained winds hold at 175 mph as of the latest update. Pressure now at 922 mb and movement is the same - WNW at 16 mph. Irma is fast approaching the Turks and Caicos Islands, where a landfalling hurricane is imminent there with catastrophic conditions. A new track update is expected at 5pm.
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11AM THURSDAY UPDATE: A Hurricane Watch has been issued for Florida from Bonita Beach in Lee County, south to the Florida Keys, and up the east coast to Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County.
That includes all of Collier, Hendry, and Glades counties in Southwest Florida, and Monroe, Miami-Dade, and Broward counties in South Florida.
A Storm Surge Watch has also been issued for Florida for the same locations, including Lake Okeechobee and Florida Bay.
Irma remains a powerful category 5, with winds now down to 175 mph at the core of the storm. Irma is positioned about 100 miles northeast of Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic. There is no significant change in the track at this time.
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8AM THURSDAY UPDATE: The eye of Hurricane Irma is 110 miles north of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Wind speeds are sustained at 180 mph with gusts to 220 mph, as strong Category 5 storm.
There are no changes to watches and warnings at this time. The next complete advisory is at 11AM.
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5AM THURSDAY UPDATE: Hurricane Irma holds steady as a Category 5 hurricane with 180mph sustained winds and gusts to 220 mph.
The eye of Irma is just north of the eastern portion of the Dominican Republic, moving W/NW at 17 mph toward Turks and Caicos. Hurricane Warnings have now been issued for the Northwestern Bahamas.
Hurricane-force winds extend 50 miles from the center, and Tropical Storm-force winds extend 185 miles from the center.
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2AM THURSDAY UPDATE: Hurricane Irma remains at a category 5 with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph. The storm is currently moving towards the southeastern Bahamas.
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