NHC 8 A.M. UPDATE: Irma Continues To Shift West, Eye Now Projected To Pass Over Tampa As CAT 3

By  //  September 9, 2017

HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR BREVARD

Brevard County is now under a Hurricane Warning as Irma’s projected track again shifted slightly west and is expected to impact the Space Coast starting Sunday morning with tropical storm-force winds that will strengthen throughout the day and into Monday. (NHC image)

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER – Brevard County is now under a Hurricane Warning as Irma’s projected track again shifted slightly west and is expected to impact the Space Coast starting Sunday morning with tropical storm-force winds that will strengthen throughout the day and into Monday.

Hurricane Irma is centered as of 5 a.m. EDT about 245 miles (395 km) south-southeast of Miami. Irma is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph.

A turn toward the northwest is expected by late today, with a turn toward the north-northwest expected tonight or on Sunday. On the forecast track, the center of Irma will move near the north coast of Cuba today, near the Florida Keys Sunday morning, and then near the southwest coast of Florida Sunday afternoon.

Maximum sustained winds are near 155 mph (250 km/h) with higher gusts. Irma is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Irma is expected to remain a powerful hurricane as it approaches Florida.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles (315 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 930 mb (27.47 inches).

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from the Volusia/Brevard County Line southward around the Florida peninsula to Chassahowitzka, including Florida Keys and Tampa Bay.

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from north of the Volusia/Brevard County Line to the Flagler/Volusia County line and north of Chassahowitzka to Suwannee River.

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The water is expected to reach the following HEIGHTS ABOVE GROUND if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:

• SW Florida from Captiva to Cape Sable…8 to 12 ft
• Cape Sable to Boca Raton including the Florida Keys…5 to 10 ft
• Venice to Captiva…5 to 8 ft
• Suwannee River to Venice including Tampa Bay…3 to 5 ft
• Boca Raton to Flagler/Volusia County line…2 to 4 ft

A Hurricane Warning is in effect from the Flagler/Volusia County Line southward around the Florida peninsula to Chassahowitzka, including the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Florida Bay. as well as the Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus,Villa Clara, and Matanzas, the Central Bahamas and Ragged Island and the Northwestern Bahamas. A Hurricane Watch is in effect from north of the Flagler/Volusia County Line to Fernandina Beach, north and west of Chassahowitzka to Indian Pass, and the Cuban provinces of Holguin and Las Tunas.

For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

Potential wind threat map from the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
Potential tornado threat map from the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
Irma is expected to produce very heavy rain and inland flooding. Total rain accumulations of 8 to 15 inches, with isolated amounts of 20 inches are expected over the Florida Keys and much of the Florida peninsula through Tuesday night.
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STAY TUNED TO SPACE COAST DAILY FOR UPDATES