Hurricane Irma downgraded to Category 3, but expected to rebound before hitting Florida
Hurricane Irma has been downgraded to a Category 3 storm, according to the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center on Saturday.
As the storm continues to batter Cuba, the 11 a.m. Eastern advisory said it has weakened to 125 miles-per-hour sustained maximum winds, which is still a “major” storm according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale used by the NHC.
However, the NHC warns, Irma is expected to “restrengthen once it moves away from Cuba,” moving over warmer waters and “is expected to remain a powerful hurricane as it approaches Florida.”
Irma is forecast to make landfall sometime Sunday morning.
Hurricane #Irma's sustained winds are now down to 125 MPH. Strengthening expected. #Jose's winds are at 145 MPH. 12-hour #GOES16 IR loop. pic.twitter.com/HrwZs3ZlNI
— NASA SPoRT (@NASA_SPoRT) September 9, 2017
The latest advisory also said the storm surge threat area has extended north; parts of southern Florida face 5 to 10 feet, and in some cases, 10 to 15 feet of “life-threatening” storm surge.
Here are the latest Key Messages for #Irma pic.twitter.com/Gxjr9hhFVx
— NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2017
The outer bands from the storm have already begun to reach the southernmost parts of the state. More 5.6 million residents have been ordered to evacuate and officials say 20,000 people are already without power. Economics predict up to $200 billion worth of damage.
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