The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Irma remains a powerful storm...and will for days.
Here is the 11am advisory from the National Hurricane Center:
.LOCATION...18.5N 37.8W ABOUT 1580 MI...2540 KM E OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...110 MPH...175 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...972 MB...28.71 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Irma was located near latitude 18.5 North, longitude 37.8 West. Irma is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h). A turn toward the west is expected by tonight, followed by a turn toward the west-southwest on Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher gusts. Fluctuations in strength, up or down, are possible during the next few days, but Irma is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through the weekend.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km).