Miami, Fla. (970 WFLA)- At 5:00 AM the center of Hurricane Irma was located near latitude 20.0 North, longitude 68.3 West. Irma is about 95 miles north of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, about 210 miles east-southeast of Grand Turk Island.
Irma is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph , and this general motion is expected to continue with some decrease in forward speed for the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the center should pass north of the coast of Hispaniola later today, be near the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas by this evening, and then be near the Central Bahamas by Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 180 mph with higher gusts. Irma is a category 5 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 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 50 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 921 mb (27.20 inches).
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...* Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti
* Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to LeMole St. Nicholas
* Southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands
* Central Bahamas* Northwestern Bahamas
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo province.
Next intermediate advisory at 8:00 AM.
Next complete advisory at 11:00 AM.
Graphic Credit: NHC Miami