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Hurricane Irma, Now a Category 4 Storm, Barrels Toward Florida Hurricane Irma, Now a Category 4 Storm, Barrels Toward Florida
(35 minutes later)
Right Now: Hurricane Irma, one of the strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane ever recorded, is heading toward the United States. Right Now: Hurricane Irma, one of the strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricanes ever recorded, is heading toward the United States.
• The National Hurricane Center downgraded the storm to Category 4, but said it remained “extremely dangerous” at 155 miles per hour as of 5 a.m. Eastern, with the Florida Keys at risk of “life-threatening inundation.” • The National Hurricane Center downgraded Irma to a Category 4 storm but said it remained “extremely dangerous” with winds of 155 miles per hour, with the Florida Keys at risk of “life-threatening inundation.”
• Tropical storm conditions will possibly hit the Florida Keys by late Saturday, with hurricane conditions reaching heavily populated South Florida on Sunday morning after the storm sweeps along Cuba’s northern coast, where tourists have been evacuated. • Tropical storm conditions are expected to hit the Florida Keys by late Saturday, with hurricane conditions reaching heavily populated areas of South Florida on Sunday morning after the storm sweeps along Cuba’s northern coast, where tourists have been evacuated.
• The storm battered the Turks and Caicos early on Friday as it headed toward the southeastern Bahamas, where 20-foot storm surges are expected. • The storm battered the Turks and Caicos early Friday as it headed toward the southeastern Bahamas, where 20-foot storm surges are expected.
• At least 11 people have died, and Caribbean islands like Barbuda and St. Martin have been devastated. • At least 18 people have died because of the storm: nine in the French Caribbean; one on the Dutch side of St. Martin; one in Barbuda; one in Anguilla; three in Puerto Rico; and three in the United States Virgin Islands.
• Global stocks fell, as investors expressed jitters about the economic damage.• Global stocks fell, as investors expressed jitters about the economic damage.
At 5 a.m. Eastern, the National Hurricane Center downgraded the hurricane to Category 4, based on the lower intensity of sustained winds, but warned that it remained “extremely dangerous,” with potentially deadly storm surges across a wide swath of the United States. Irma is among the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean and one of the five most forceful storms to hit the Atlantic basin in 82 years, according to National Hurricane Center.
The hurricane’s eye continued to move west, away from the Turks and Caicos Islands and toward the southeastern Bahamas, on Friday morning. At 5 a.m. Eastern, the center downgraded the hurricane to Category 4, based on the lower intensity of sustained winds. But the center warned that the storm remained “extremely dangerous,” with potentially deadly storm surges across a wide section of the United States.
“The core of the hurricane will then move between the north coast of Cuba and the Bahamas during the next day or two, and be near the Florida Keys and the southern Florida Peninsula Sunday morning,” the hurricane center said. The hurricane’s eye continued to move west, away from the Turks and Caicos Islands and toward the southeastern Bahamas on Friday morning.
Large and destructive waves were expected along the hurricane’s path: storm surges as high as 15 to 20 feet in the Turks and Caicos and in the southeastern and central Bahamas, five to 10 feet on the northern coast of Cuba and the northwestern Bahamas, and one to 3 feet on the northern coast of Haiti. “The core of the hurricane will then move between the north coast of Cuba and the Bahamas during the next day or two,” the hurricane center said, “and be near the Florida Keys and the southern Florida Peninsula Sunday morning.”
Large and destructive waves were expected along the hurricane’s path: storm surges as high as 15 to 20 feet in the Turks and Caicos, and in the southeastern and central Bahamas; five to 10 feet on the northern coast of Cuba and the northwestern Bahamas; and one to three feet on the northern coast of Haiti.
Much of the South Florida coast, including the Keys, could face up to five to 10 feet of storm surge.Much of the South Florida coast, including the Keys, could face up to five to 10 feet of storm surge.
Irma was among the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean and one of the five most forceful storms to hit the Atlantic basin in 82 years, according to the hurricane center. A storm-surge warning was in effect across much of South Florida — from the Jupiter Inlet on the Atlantic coast to Bonita Beach on the Gulf of Mexico — including the Keys.
With a storm surge warning in effect across much of South Florida — from the Jupiter Inlet on the Atlantic coast to Bonita Beach on the Gulf of Mexico — including the Keys. In Florida, voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders were in place in Miami-Dade County, the Keys and portions of numerous other counties — including the part of Palm Beach County that is home to Mar-a-Lago, one of President Trump’s estates. (Mr. Trump also owns property on the French side of St. Martin, which was devastated by the storm.)
In Florida, voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders were in place in Miami-Dade County, the Keys and portions of numerous other counties — including the part of Palm Beach County that is home to Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s estate. (Mr. Trump also owns property on the French side of St. Martin, an island devastated by the storm.)
In Miami on Thursday, people lined up for bottled water and drivers waited for hours to get gasoline. Gasoline shortages in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area were reported.In Miami on Thursday, people lined up for bottled water and drivers waited for hours to get gasoline. Gasoline shortages in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area were reported.
A mandatory evacuation on Georgia’s Atlantic Coast was to begin on Saturday, Gov. Nathan Deal said. A mandatory evacuation was to begin on Saturday on Georgia’s Atlantic Coast, Gov. Nathan Deal said. The Georgia Ports Authority said the ports of Savannah, the fourth-largest container port in the United States, and Brunswick would be closed starting Saturday.
Three people were killed in Puerto Rico, and around two-thirds of the population lost electricity, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said.Three people were killed in Puerto Rico, and around two-thirds of the population lost electricity, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said.
Four people died in the United States Virgin Islands, and a major hospital was badly damaged by the wind. An amphibious assault ship arrived in the territory on Thursday and sent helicopters to help evacuate patients from the hospital.Four people died in the United States Virgin Islands, and a major hospital was badly damaged by the wind. An amphibious assault ship arrived in the territory on Thursday and sent helicopters to help evacuate patients from the hospital.
The island of Barbuda — where nearly all buildings were reduced “to rubble,” according to Prime Minister Gaston Browne — braced for new hardship, in the form of Hurricane Jose.The island of Barbuda — where nearly all buildings were reduced “to rubble,” according to Prime Minister Gaston Browne — braced for new hardship, in the form of Hurricane Jose.
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe of France said four bodies had been recovered on the French-Dutch island of St. Martin, which was devastated by the storm. France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, was in Greece for an official visit but planned to travel to the Caribbean once the weather permitted it. France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, was in Greece for an official visit but planned to travel to the Caribbean once the weather permitted it.
The Dominican Republic and Haiti, which share the island of Hispaniola, were bypassed by Irma, but damage from flooding and power outages was reported on the Haitian side. Irma bypassed the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which share the island of Hispaniola, but damage from flooding and power outages was reported on the Haitian side.
Cuba started evacuating some of the 51,000 tourists visiting the island, particularly 36,000 people at resorts on the northern coast.Cuba started evacuating some of the 51,000 tourists visiting the island, particularly 36,000 people at resorts on the northern coast.
Hurricane Irma comes just weeks after Hurricane Harvey claimed about 60 lives and caused property damage estimated at $180 billion in Texas and Louisiana.Hurricane Irma comes just weeks after Hurricane Harvey claimed about 60 lives and caused property damage estimated at $180 billion in Texas and Louisiana.
The dollar fell about 0.5 percent against the euro, partly on fears of the economic damage caused by the storm. Reinsurance companies were also hit, led by Everest Re, which fell 6.8 percent on Thursday.The dollar fell about 0.5 percent against the euro, partly on fears of the economic damage caused by the storm. Reinsurance companies were also hit, led by Everest Re, which fell 6.8 percent on Thursday.
After Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma opens up a threatening scenario, potentially turning a normal year into a weak year for reinsurers, Frank Kopfinger, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, said in a note to clients. “After Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma opens up a threatening scenario, potentially turning a normal year into a weak year for reinsurers,” Frank Kopfinger, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, said in a note to clients.