NHC: Irma Continues To Weaken, Downgraded To Tropical Storm, Currently Located North of Tampa
By Space Coast Daily // September 11, 2017
Irma has a very large wind field
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER – Hurricane Irma has been downgraded to a tropical storm as of 8 a.m. EDT, and it’s centered over Florida about 60 miles north of Tampa and about 35 miles east-southeast of Cedar Key.
Irma is moving toward the north-northwest near 18 mph (30 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue through Tuesday.
On the forecast track, the center of Irma will move near the northwestern coast of the Florida Peninsula this morning, cross the eastern Florida Panhandle into southern Georgia this afternoon, and move through southwestern Georgia and eastern Alabama tonight and Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts.
Additional weakening is forecast, and Irma is expected to weaken to a tropical storm this morning and to a tropical depression by Tuesday afternoon.
Irma has a very large wind field. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) mainly to the west of the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 415 miles (665 km).
The Mayport Naval Station near Jacksonville, Florida, recently reported sustained winds of 68 mph (109 km/h) and a wind gust of 87 mph (141 km/h). The estimated minimum central pressure is 965 mb (28.50 inches).
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for the South Santee River southward to Jupiter Inlet * Cape Sable northward to the Ochlockonee River, including Tampa Bay.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Sebastian Inlet to Fernandina Beach and from the Anclote River to Indian Pass. A Hurricane Watch is in effect from north of Fernandina Beach to Edisto Beach. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from wWest of Indian Pass to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line, north of Fernandina Beach to South Santee River, south of the Anclote River to Bonita Beach,and south of Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet, including Lake Okeechobee.
