BULLETIN
Hurricane Irma Advisory Number 37
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017
500 AM EDT Fri Sep 08 2017
…IRMA MOVING THROUGH THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS AS AN EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE...
SUMMARY OF 500 AM EDT…0900 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————-
LOCATION…21.7N 73.8W
ABOUT 55 MI…90 KM NW OF GREAT INAGUA ISLAND
ABOUT 495 MI…795 KM SE OF MIAMI FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…155 MPH…250 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 16 MPH…26 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…925 MB…27.32 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
——————–
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…
* Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita
Beach
* Florida Keys
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…
* North of Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet
* North of Bonita Beach to Venice
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita
Beach
* Florida Keys
* Lake Okeechobee
* Florida Bay
* Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le
Mole St. Nicholas
* Southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands
* Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, and
Villa Clara
* Central Bahamas
* Northwestern Bahamas
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* North of Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet
* North of Bonita Beach to Anna Maria Island
* Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, Las Tunas and Matanzas
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince
* Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline,
during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a
depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons
located within these areas should take all necessary actions to
protect life and property from rising water and the potential for
other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other
instructions from local officials.
A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and
property should be rushed to completion.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours
before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force
winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area.
Interests elsewhere in Cuba, Florida, and the southeastern United
States should monitor the progress of Irma.
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. For storm information specific to your area outside the
United States, please monitor products issued by your national
meteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
——————————
At 500 AM EDT (0900 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Irma was located
near latitude 21.7 North, longitude 73.8 West. Irma is moving toward
the west-northwest near 16 mph (26 km/h), and this motion is
expected to continue for the next day or so with a decrease in
forward speed. A turn toward the northwest is expected by late
Saturday. On the forecast track, the eye of Irma should continue to
move westward away from the Turks and Caicos Islands and toward the
southeastern Bahamas this morning. The core of the hurricane will
then move between the north coast of Cuba and the Bahamas during the
next day or two, and be near the Florida Keys and the southern
Florida Peninsula Sunday morning.
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 forecast to remain a
powerful category 4 hurricane during the next couple of days.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185
miles (295 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 925 mb (27.32 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
———————-
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the
tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by
rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water is
expected to reach the following HEIGHTS ABOVE GROUND if the peak
surge occurs at the time of high tide…
Jupiter Inlet to Bonita Beach, including Florida Keys…5 to 10 ft
Bonita Beach to Venice…3 to 5 ft
Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet…3 to 6 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of
onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and
destructive waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative
timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over
short distances. For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.
The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and large breaking
waves will raise water levels ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS by the
following amounts within the hurricane warning area near and to the
north of the center of Irma. Near the coast, the surge will be
accompanied by large and destructive waves.
Turks and Caicos Islands…15 to 20 ft
Southeastern and central Bahamas…15 to 20 ft
Northwestern Bahamas…5 to 10 ft
Northern coast of Haiti and the Gulf of Gonave…1 to 3 ft
Northern coast of Cuba in the warning area…5 to 10 ft
WIND: Hurricane or tropical storm conditions are expected to
continue within the hurricane warning area in Haiti for the next
few hours. Hurricane conditions are occurring on the Turks and
Caicos Islands. Tropical storm and hurricane conditions are
spreading across the southeastern Bahamas and will move into the
central Bahamas later this morning. Hurricane conditions are
expected within the hurricane warning area along the north coast of
Cuba late today and Saturday. Hurricane conditions are expected in
the northwestern Bahamas tonight and Saturday, and in portions of
southern Florida and the Florida Keys Saturday night or early
Sunday.
Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area in Florida
by Sunday, with tropical storm conditions possible by late Saturday.
RAINFALL: Irma is expected to produce the following rain
accumulations through Tuesday night:
Northern Dominican Republic and northern Haiti…additional 2 to 4
inches.
Southern Dominican Republic and southern Haiti…additional 1 to 2
inches.
Turks and Caicos…additional 3 to 6 inches.
Southern Bahamas and northern Cuba…10 to 15 inches, isolated 20
inches.
Southern Cuba…4 to 8 inches, isolated 12 inches.
The upper Florida Keys into southeast Florida…10 to 15 inches,
isolated 20 inches.
Eastern Florida northward into coastal Georgia…8 to 12 inches,
isolated 16 inches.
Lower Florida Keys…3 to 5 inches.
Western Florida Peninsula into much of Georgia…South
Carolina…and Western North Carolina…3 to 6 inches.
In all areas this rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods
and in some areas mudslides.
SURF: Swells generated by Irma are affecting Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands, the southeastern Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos
Islands, the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, and should
start affecting portions of the southeast coast of the United States
later today and tonight. These swells are likely to cause
life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult
products from your local weather office.
NEXT ADVISORY
————-
Next intermediate advisory at 800 AM EDT.
Next complete advisory at 1100 AM EDT.
