(Eagle News) – Irma has now been downgraded into a Category 1 hurricane as it continued to weaken while moving over the Western Florida Peninsula, according to the United States’ National Hurricane Center (NHC)
In its 2 a.m. EDT Monday, (2 p.m. Manila time) Sept. 11 update, NHC said that Irma’s sustained winds are only about 85 miles per hour.
In its latest update, NHC said: “IRMA WEAKENING AS IT MOVES OVER THE WESTERN FLORIDA PENINSULA… As of 2:00 AM EDT Mon Sep 11 the center of Irma was located near 28.2, -82.2 with movement NNW at 15 mph. The minimum central pressure was 960 mb with maximum sustained winds of about 85 mph.”
Its forecast said that Irma’s center will remain over Florida and “then move over the southeastern United States for the duration of its existence.”
NHC said Irma will continue to weaken and then dissipate by day 3 or day 4.
“Due to continued land interaction and strong shear of over 30 kt, Irma should continue to lose strength and fall below hurricane intensity on Monday. The cyclone is then expected to become a remnant low over western Tennessee by day 3 and dissipate by day 4,” the NHC explained.
(Eagle News Service)