Irma is 150mph and moving West as it approaches the Leewards

[malaise]

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT11/refresh/AL112017_5day_cone_no_line_and_wind+png/090514_5day_cone_no_line_and_wind.png



Spare a thought for the islands in its path

[Dustlawyer]

1. Hopefully they have prepared as best they can!

Find shelter away from large trees!

[democratisphere]

2. Category 5. This is going to be a catastrophic disaster no matter where it hits.

[DippyDem]

3. 150 mph with gusts of 185 mph winds!

[beachbum bob]

4. not looking good for South Florida at all and depends

on how much power this storm loses vs how much energy it can obtain from the warmer waters....and if and when it hits land on the way and final trajectory if it turns north to hit south florida, skirt the coast and at the mid-atlantic states

[Old Vet]

5. Damn, I heard it might be a CAT-6, Thought that was insane..This is a monster...

[Amishman]

7. There is no such thing as a CAT 6, and several models are overstating the strength

The GFS and HMON are the ones giving most of the insane sub 900 pressure predictions. They are not coupled to the ocean, meaning they do not factor in some of the physics which puts a ceiling on hurricane strength. This usually isn't a problem as other conditions are often not perfect enough to push towards that ceiling.

Cat 4 or low cat 5 is probably the high end plausible strength, and is scary enough

[Old Vet]

9. I know now theres no such thing as a cat-6, Many model though ARE predicting possible.........

sustained as at or above the cat-5 level. I will look up those articles, I think they were the European models which have been proven more accurate then others. Either way I hope Iam very wrong, But this storm looks very omious.

[bluepen]

22. Cat 5 is 157 mph or higher.

Can't get higher than "higher."

(Although I knew some people in college who tried.)

[Achilleaze]

6. Calling all angels

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Latest NHC recon has confirmed Cat 5 winds and special statement has been issued @7:45 am AST

prior to the regular 8:00 am AST update -

000
WTNT61 KNHC 051147
TCUAT1

Hurricane Irma Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017
745 AM AST Tue Sep 05 2017

...HURRICANE IRMA BECOMES A CATEGORY 5 ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
HURRICANE WIND SCALE...

NOAA and Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft data indicate Hurricane
Irma has intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 5
hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with maximum
winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) with higher gusts. A special advisory
will be issued at 800 AM AST (1200 UTC) in lieu of the scheduled
intermediate advisory for Irma.


SUMMARY OF 745 AM AST...1145 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...16.7N 57.7W
ABOUT 270 MI...440 KM E OF ANTIGUA
ABOUT 280 MI...445 KM ESE OF BARBUDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...175 MPH...280 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...929 MB...27.44 INCHES

$$
Forecaster Brown/Landsea

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCUAT1+shtml/DDHHMM.shtml?

[Nay]

10. Jesus. A monster. I've been begging my brother and SIL to leave FL now and

come stay with us in VA. I'm so afraid they won't be able to evacuate (clogged roads) by the time they figure out it's going to be really bad. We are inland enough in VA that we'd get rain and some wind, but no flooding. However, if Irma is like Isabel, we'll have no power for weeks, downed trees, etc. Sometimes it's hard to know which way to jump.

[roamer65]

11. The hurricane forming ESE of Irma has me worried for you, Malaise.

Be safe!

I think Irma may go north of you.

[madokie]

12. You stay safe malaise

Peace



You have hurricanes, we have tornadoes. Not sure which is worse. One you can kinda prepare for the other you never know when or where it might strike.
Thats why we had a cellar installed last summer. About 30 feet from our front door.

This one here is going to be a dangerous one as its already at 175 mph

[cwydro]

13. I'm in touch with my friends in the Keys.

They're watching as I am.

These storms can change drastically. If it goes over any of the more mountainous islands, that might weaken it a bit. Scary right now.

[B2G]

34. I hope they're considering leaving.

Which Key are they on?

[womanofthehills]

48. The Keys have issued mandatory tourist evacuation for Wed

[Ligyron]

14. Putting up my shutters today and will leave them on all season.

I'm in So FL and will report on events when it hits until we lose power.

[mitch96]

18. Mine are going up on thursday

Storm force winds expected here Friday pm... shit, shit, shit..
I was gonna run north after putting up the shutters but it would prolly follow me..
What's going on in Asheville this weekend... I'm heading there...!!
m

[octoberlib]

15. Stay safe , Malaise!

[malaise]

24. We're not in the cone at this time

My Miami sis and her family now -they are as prepared as they can be and now they wait, watch and listen

[alfredo]

16. If the storm does't move north, Texas could be slammed again.

Just what Texas doesn't need.

[Demtexan]

17. We suppose to have cold front coming.

At least cool front.

[alfredo]

19. Let's see if that affects intensity or path.

My bets are on NOLA getting hit. What will happen in the warm waters of the gulf is anybody's guess.

There is a disturbance south of Texas worth watching.

[Demtexan]

23. The night temps will be a lot cooler.

If it will help.

This is my last year in Houston.

This time next I am living on my little farm.

It 100 miles away from my house.

My area did not flood so the value did go up.

I will retire a year early.

[alfredo]

26. Retirement is the most beautiful word one can utter.

The models are now showing Irma will jog to the north and head through Florida.

[Demtexan]

33. I am ready to retire.

I will be working on the little farm but I will enjoy it.

I do not want to be close to gulf coast anymore.

[alfredo]

37. i'm just happy living in the Bluegrass region.

No hurricanes, no Tsunami, no big fault lines, just occasional tornados and flash floods.

[Demtexan]

39. In the start of the hill country.

Nice little farm I bought when I was 20 years old.

With a down payment from my parents.

Nice little house redone and a new little barn.

Chickens, a few head of cattle.

A big garden.

A few friends

I am so ready.

I spent a lot of summers on my grandparents farm.

I know how farm.

[alfredo]

40. A gentleman farmer? I'm a gentleman loafer.

[Demtexan]

41. Lady farmer.

It is so peaceful there.

The work is not so hard and there will be four of us.

Two are living there now.

I thought of waiting until 65 but not now.

Between Trump and huricanes it getting to time to get.

[alfredo]

46. You will want a good mouser, and a dog that can't catch the cat.

[Demtexan]

47. We have barn cats.

We have a good dog.

Cats do not like the dog.

The dog learned the hard way.

He stays away now.

These are feral cats.

The cats learned to leave the chickens alone.

The chickens chased the cats up a tree.

It was funny.

[alfredo]

49. Our house cat was fierce, even attacked a Rottweiler, but

she was afraid of our Cockatiel

[malaise]

25. I just saw that

What a mess

[alfredo]

28. And it isn't the only area of concern.

There are areas in the west Gulf and right behind Irma.

They did predict an active hurricane season for the Atlantic.

[malaise]

29. This

[alfredo]

38. Yes. Nasty business

The one in the Gulf has intensified since this morning.

[greytdemocrat]

20. Gusts to over 200 mph.

Very impressive storm to say the least.

Good thing is probably won't stay a CAT 5
with eye wall replacements. It'll go up and down.

I would NOT want this thing coming
right at me.

[titaniumsalute]

21. It is a monster

Not sad that I sold my house two years ago in Palm Beach County but terrified for my friends who live there currently.

[smirkymonkey]

27. It must be terrifying to be in the path of that.

I hope everyone stays safe.

[kydo]

30. Tried to talk sense into the hubby last night. We are in Orlando BTW

I said we need a generator ASAP! Get one. He said oh we can go tomorrow. Guess what? Orlando is out of generators right now. We are set on the other stuff, well I need water and extra batteries. but I am not worried about that so much. I will get that today, at the latest tomorrow. That stuff will be restocked several times before the storm hits,so.It's the generator that is worry some for our prep.

[malaise]

32. More are coming today -they are restocking

Don't worry -go and get it

[kydo]

44. Everyone is in panic mode. Costco had lines just to get on the lot.

The other supplies are not hard to come by with all the restocking. But generators are different. They only get so many in and they have way more people waiting to buy. You never know when or where they will show.

We opted to just order one. It will come after the storm. But thats ok as you can't use it until after anyway. We had one before, it just died thats why we are generator-less at the moment.

I am ok. The hubby not so much. He is supposed to fly out of Orlando to Bahrain on Friday. He works there, DoD.

Right now all we (everyone in Fl) can do, is watch, wait, prepare for the worst, but pray for the best. Huncker down all in its path and stay safe!

[PRETZEL]

36. My brother's in Orlando also

he learned his lesson last year about not keeping his generator running properly.

Be safe

[kydo]

45. Yeah, the gas! Gas from the pump will destroy it

You need to run that tru fuel not that ethonyal watered down gas from the pump. At least make sure thats last fuel you used before you store it. Gas from the pump breaks down and will destroy the gaskets. Same with lawn mowers, pressure washers all those 4 and 2 cycle engines.

[B2G]

31. Now 175 MPH sustained winds.

30 mile wide eye. Not good, praying for the islands that are about to be rocked.

[malaise]

35. Terrifying

Last edited Tue Sep 5, 2017, 11:47 AM - Edit history (1)

There will be devastation

[greytdemocrat]

42. A relative of ours

was supposed to be heading to St. Thomas
around the 21st for a biz conference. I texted
him this morning that his hotel may not be there.

His company is making other plans as it sure looks
like St. Thomas is going to take a direct hit.

[malaise]

43. Yep the French islands, Mantinique and Guadeloupe and then

Montserrat, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Virgins and Puerto Rico will take a beating