Category 5 Hurricane Irma to threaten lives, property in the northern Caribbean

By Jordan Root, AccuWeather meteorologist

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist

September 5,2017, 11:26:54AM,EDT

 

Life-threatening conditions are expected across the northern Caribbean this week as Category 5 Hurricane Irma barrels through.

“Irma is expected to bring deteriorating and perhaps devastating conditions across the Leeward Islands into Wednesday,” AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said.
Irma strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (285 km/h) on Tuesday morning, becoming the strongest storm in the Atlantic Basin since 2007. Irma will pass near or over the Leeward Islands Tuesday night into Wednesday.
The current track of Irma will put Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, in the brunt of the storm's rain and wind during this time. Impacts could also be felt across the far northern Windward Islands as well.

Irma poses an imminent danger to these areas, where preparations for the storm should be done or rushed to completion.
Widespread power outages and significant damage to trees and structures are likely where the eye of the storm passes directly over or makes its closest approach. The power may be out for weeks in some communities.
Rough surf will spread outward from the storm, leading to dangerous swimming and boating conditions along the east-facing beaches of the Lesser Antilles. Small craft should head to port and remain there until Irma has passed.
A large and devastating storm surge will inundate the coasts of the northernmost Leeward Islands.
RELATED:
AccuWeather Hurricane Center
6 ways to prepare now for hurricanes
Why you should evacuate ahead of a hurricane
How does Harvey measure up to Hurricane Katrina, other US flooding catastrophes?
Hurricane preparedness checklist
“We are expecting very rough and dangerous surf along with damaging tropical-storm-force and hurricane-force winds over the northern Leeward Islands, and tropical-storm-force winds over the southern Leewards to perhaps the northern Windward Islands, mostly in gusts,” Kottlowski said.
Irma will track near Puerto Rico Wednesday and Wednesday night, delivering flooding rain and damaging winds along with the threat for mudslides.
Rainfall will be heavy enough to trigger flash flooding, mudslides and road washouts. Amounts of 4 to 8 inches of rain can be expected on the islands.

“Farther to the west, residents and interests on Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and eastern Cuba should closely monitor the progression of Major Hurricane Irma,” Kottlowski said.
A track near or over these locations is becoming increasingly likely towards the end of the week, which would bring life-threatening conditions to residents and any vacationers.

The greatest impacts would be felt Thursday and Thursday night for Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos Islands. By Friday, Cuba and the Bahamas could begin to be severely impacted. These areas should prepare for devastating hurricane conditions.
However, fluctuations in Irma’s strength and track are expected over the next couple of days, so the exact track the hurricane will take is still uncertain this far out. Regardless, residents are urged to prepare now and have a plan in place.
Uncertainty greatly increases heading into the weekend and next week as Irma tracks closer to the United States coastline.
Given the uncertainty that remains, all interests along the Gulf and East coasts should closely monitor the forecast path of Irma this week and review emergency and evacuation procedures in case they need to be implemented.

Behind Irma, Tropical Storm Jose formed hundreds of miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands around 11:00 a.m. EDT Tuesday.
This system may continue to organize and gain strength as it moves to the west-northwest toward the Lesser Antilles during the latter part of this week.