Hurricane Irma Now Category 5 Storm Headed Towards Florida

Hurricane Harvey has come and gone and many in Texas and Louisiana along Gulf Coast are trying to get back to regularly scheduled programming. But it's not going to be easy after suffering massive flooding from record rainfall. While we're preoccupied with our region, the east coast is preparing for something potentially far worse.

Video Source: ABC Action News

From CBS News, Hurricane Irma strengthened to a powerful Category 5 storm (as of Tuesday afternoon), heading toward the northeastern Caribbean. Hurricane warnings have been posted for islands including Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Maarten and St. Bart’s.

Florida Governor Rick Scott issued a precautionary state of emergency, and residents on the East Coast were urged to monitor Irma's progress, since it could turn north toward Florida, Georgia or the Carolinas. He said in a statement from CBS Miami:

In Florida, we always prepare for the worst and hope for the best and while the exact path of Irma is not absolutely known at this time, we cannot afford to not be prepared.

Emergency officials warned that Irma could dump up to 10 inches of rain, unleash landslides and dangerous flash floods and generate waves of up to 23 feet as the storm draws closer.

Let's continue to keep our family and friends in prayer as Hurricane Irma prepares to make landfall. And remember, if they need our help, we owe it to those who lent us a hand.

Filed Under: Carolina's, Dominican Republic, florida, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma

Categories: News, Weather