Good evening.
At 5 PM Hurricane Irma was located at 17.1 N & 59.8 W and was moving just north of W @ 14mph. During the day Irma has been steadily intensifying and is now a strong Category 5. Winds have increased to 185 mph which matches the peak winds of Wilma in 2005 when it set the record for most intense hurricane in the Atlantic Basin with a barometric pressure of 882 mbs and peak sustained winds of 185 mph.
Irma appears to be making a bee line for Puerto Rico. If it should make a direct hit with that intensity it could devastate the island.
My track so far hasn't changed from this am, however if it should remain on the more southerly track and hit Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and Cuba it could slow and a more easterly path, east of Florida could become more possible. The NHC has revised its track a little further south, see above.
We'll just have to see how things develop.
Elsewhere in the Tropics Jose has formed, see below. No way Jose! Jose should pass well to our east and only present a potential threat to Bermuda. In addition a new Tropical Depression #13, has formed in the Bay of Campeche, is expected to meander for a few days. It is pulling a lot of moisture into the air over the Gulf of Mexico and at least for now mostly poses a rainfall risk to southern and eastern Mexico.
I'll write again tomorrow am early.
Until then, Matt.
At 5 PM Hurricane Irma was located at 17.1 N & 59.8 W and was moving just north of W @ 14mph. During the day Irma has been steadily intensifying and is now a strong Category 5. Winds have increased to 185 mph which matches the peak winds of Wilma in 2005 when it set the record for most intense hurricane in the Atlantic Basin with a barometric pressure of 882 mbs and peak sustained winds of 185 mph.
Irma appears to be making a bee line for Puerto Rico. If it should make a direct hit with that intensity it could devastate the island.
My track so far hasn't changed from this am, however if it should remain on the more southerly track and hit Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and Cuba it could slow and a more easterly path, east of Florida could become more possible. The NHC has revised its track a little further south, see above.
We'll just have to see how things develop.
Elsewhere in the Tropics Jose has formed, see below. No way Jose! Jose should pass well to our east and only present a potential threat to Bermuda. In addition a new Tropical Depression #13, has formed in the Bay of Campeche, is expected to meander for a few days. It is pulling a lot of moisture into the air over the Gulf of Mexico and at least for now mostly poses a rainfall risk to southern and eastern Mexico.
I'll write again tomorrow am early.
Until then, Matt.