| Supplemental Info:
Hurricane Irma Situation Update - Sept 10, 2017
[This statement is from the NHC 5:00 PM update. No updated storm discussion was provided for the 8:00 PM update. Thus, the assessment will likely change. Check the link later for the 11:00 PM update.]
According to the National Hurricane Center, 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. Irma should be well inland and weaken to a remnant low in 72 hours. The official intensity forecast is above the model consensus.
Center fixes indicate a slightly west of due northward motion at about 350/12 kt. Global models indicate that Irma is embedded within a broader cyclonic mid-level gyre. The cyclone is expected to be steered around the eastern side of this gyre over the next few days. This will take the system inland over the southeastern United states within a day or so. The track guidance remains in good agreement, and the official forecast is close to the model consensus with a slight lean toward the ECMWF solution. This is very close to the previous NHC track.
KEY MESSAGES:
1. Life-threatening wind and storm surge from Irma will continue in the Florida Keys and southwestern Florida and spread into central and northwestern Florida tonight and Monday.
2. There is imminent danger of life-threatening storm surge flooding along much of the Florida west coast, including the Florida Keys, where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect. The threat of catastrophic storm surge flooding is highest along the southwest coast of Florida, where 10 to 15 feet of inundation above ground level is expected. This is a life-threatening situation.
3. Irma will bring life-threatening wind impacts to much of Florida regardless of the exact track of the center. Wind hazards from Irma are also expected to spread northward through Georgia and into portions of Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
4. Irma is producing very heavy rain and inland flooding across much of Florida, which will quickly spread to the rest of the southeast United States. Intense rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour is leading to flash flooding and rapid rises on creeks, streams, and rivers. Significant river flooding is likely over the next five days in the Florida peninsula and southeast Georgia, where average rainfall of 8 to 15 inches and isolated 20 inch amounts are expected. Significant river flooding is also possible beginning Monday and Tuesday in much of eastern and central Georgia, western South Carolina, and western North Carolina, where average rainfall of 3 to 8 inches and isolated 12 inch amounts are expected. Mountainous parts of these states will be especially vulnerable to flash flooding. Farther west, Irma is expected to produce average amounts of 2 to 5 inches in parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, where isolated higher amounts and local flooding may occur.
RECOVERY AND DISASTER ASSISTANCE
Free Internet Access
Cable and internet provider Comcast is offering free internet access across Florida through 9/15 to help residents and emergency personnel stay connected during Hurricane Irma. This includes more than 137,000 Xfinity wifi hotspots throughout the state to anyone who needs them, including non-Xfinity customers.
For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, which are located both indoors and outdoors in places such as shopping districts, parks and businesses, visit the link below.
http://Xfinity.com/wifi or http://wifi.xfinity.com
PLEASE SHARE THIS EMAIL WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THERE ARE MANY IMPACTED BY IRMA WHO MAY FIND THESE RESOURCES USEFUL.
A DISCOUNT SUBSCRIPTION LINK FOR THE ALERTSUSA SERVICE CAN BE FOUND BELOW.
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