Miami, Fla. (970 WFLA)- At 800 AM EDT , the center of Hurricane Irma was located near latitude 24.5 North, longitude 81.5 West. Irma is about 20 miles east-southeast of Key West Florida, and about 110 miles south of Naples. Irma is moving toward the north-northwest near 8 mph and an increase in forward speed is expected later today, with that motion continuing through Monday.
On the forecast track, the eye of Irma should move over the Lower Florida Keys shortly, and then move near or over the west coast of the Florida Peninsula later today through tonight. Irma should then move inland over northern Florida and southwestern Georgia Monday afternoon.
Maximum sustained winds are near 130 mph (215 km/h) with highergusts. Irma is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-SimpsonHurricane Wind Scale.
While weakening is forecast, Irma is expected to remain a powerful hurricane while it moves through the Florida Keys and near the west coast of Florida.Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 220 miles.
A wind gust to 89 mph was recently measured at the Key West National Weather Service Forecast Office. Sustained winds of 46 mph with a gust to 72 mph was recently reported at Tamiami Airport in West Kendall, Florida.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 929 mb (27.43 inches).
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Fernandina Beach southward around the Florida peninsula to IndianPass
* Florida Keys
* Lake Okeechobee
* Florida Bay
* Cuban provinces of Matanzas and La Habana
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for..
.* North of Fernandina Beach to Edisto Beach
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for..
.* West of Indian Pass to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line
* North of Fernandina Beach to South Santee River
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for..
.* Bimini and Grand Bahama
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for..
.* South Santee River southward to Jupiter Inlet
* North Miami Beach southward around the Florida peninsula to the Ochlockonee River
* Florida Keys
* Tampa Bay
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water is expected to reach the following HEIGHTS ABOVE GROUND if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...Cape Sable to Captiva...10 to 15 ft Captiva to Ana Maria Island...6 to 10 ft Card Sound Bridge through Cape Sable, including the Florida Keys...5 to 10 feet Ana Maria Island to Clearwater Beach, including Tampa Bay.
5 to 8 ft North Miami Beach to Card Sound Bridge, including Biscayne Bay...3 to 5 ft South Santee River to Fernandina Beach...4 to 6 ft Clearwater Beach to Ochlockonee River...4 to 6 ft Fernandina Beach to Jupiter Inlet...2 to 4 ftNorth of North Miami Beach to Jupiter Inlet...1 to 2 ft.
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative
timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.
Graphic Credit: NHC Miami