Hurricane Irma regained strength to a Category 4 storm early as it began pummeling Florida and threatening landfall within hours. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMM
(Eagle News) — Hurricane Irma made landfall for a second time near Marco Island in Florida and is now near Naples where dangerous storm surges are expected, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.
Because of its encounter in the Florida landmass, it has weakened and is now a Category 2 storm.
As of 5 pm in Florida Sunday, Sept. 10 (5 a.m. Monday Sept 11 Manila time), the center of Irma was located near Naples with maximum sustained winds of about 110 miles per hour.
NHC’s 5 p.m. EDT update said: “IRMA NEAR NAPLES FLORIDA… …DANGEROUS STORM SURGES EXPECTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EYE PASSAGE ALONG THE FLORIDA WEST COAST… As of 5:00 PM EDT Sun Sep 10 the center of Irma was located near 26.2, -81.8 with movement N at 14 mph. The minimum central pressure was 938 mb with maximum sustained winds of about 110 mph.”
“Irma made landfall a couple of hours ago near Marco Island, Florida with an estimated intensity of 100 kt. The eye just passed over Naples, and assuming some decay over land, the current intensity estimate is 95 kt. The interaction with the Florida Peninsula along with strong southwesterly shear should cause significant weakening, but Irma’s large and powerful circulation will likely maintain hurricane strength until Monday morning at the earliest,” NHC said.
“Irma should be well inland and weaken to a remnant low in 72 hours. The official intensity forecast is above the model consensus,” it added
Hurricane Irma made landfall for the second time in Florida on Sunday, this time striking Marco Island near the popular shopping and golf destination of Naples, US forecasters said.
The deadly hurricane hit Marco Island at 3:35 pm (1935 GMT) as a Category Three storm with top winds swirling at 115 miles (185 kilometers) per hour just 15 miles south-southeast of Naples, according to the National Hurricane Center.
As of 9 p.m. EDT Sunday, Sept. 10, Irma is “expected to turn towards the north-northwest overnight,” said NHC.
“As of 9:00 PM EDT Sun Sep 10 the center of Irma was located near 27.1, -81.8 with movement N at 14 mph. The minimum central pressure was 942 mb with maximum sustained winds of about 105 mph,” it added.
With still brutally strong winds of a maximum of 105 mph, Category 2 hurricane Irma is now moving towards Tampa, Florida.
(Eagle News Service with an Agence France Presse report)