Hurricane Irma Strengthens Again, Severe Impacts Likely in Florida
Good morning! While our weather remains calmer, we have been monitoring Hurricane Irma very closely this weekend. Irma had been moving west-northwest along the north-coast of Cuba on Saturday. This was due to a stronger sub-tropical Atlantic ridge to the north of Irma, stronger than much of the model guidance had previously indicated. Irma had also weakened from a Category 5 hurricane to a Category 3 hurricane, from more land interaction with Cuba. But Irma has now restrengthened to a Category 4 hurricane with 130mph maximum sustained winds this morning over the Florida Straits and is moving slowly northwest towards the Lower Florida Keys.
Irma is now beginning to interact with a mid-level trough over Northern Gulf of Mexico. Irma will turn even more north-northwestward today, as shortwave energy with this trough begins to phase with Irma. After moving over the Lower Florida Keys this morning, Irma’s eye will likely make landfall somewhere along the Southwest Florida coast late today or tonight. Irma’s inner core remained largely intact after leaving Cuba — and Irma just completed an eyewall replacement cycle, with the inner eyewall collapsing and the outer eyewall contracting. This has lead Irma to restrengthen again.
