Hurricane Irma LIVE: 5am update from the National Hurricane Center - NOAA latest path
HURRICANE IRMA is moving off the Dominican Republic, according to the new update from the NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Hurricane Irma set to hit South Carolina
The 5am EDT update, from the NHC, said the eye of category 5 hurricane is moving west-northwestward off the northeast of the Dominican Republic.
The latest storm track map shows Irma is set to hit Florida on Sunday and near the border between Georgian and South Carolina on Monday.
The cone, which contains the probable path of the storm centre, has shifted to the east, raising hopes that Irma might change path and stay offshore.
Here is a breakdown of the update.
NHC update: The forecast track
The NHC said: “On the forecast track, the center should pass north of the coast of Hispaniola later today, be near the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas by this evening, and then be near the Central Bahamas by Friday.”
NHC update: The latest location
Irma was last located just 95 miles (155 km) north of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and 210 miles (335 km) east-southeast of Grand Turk Island.
Hurricane Irma path update: Latest wind map from the NOAA NHC
NHC update: The threat to the Caribbean
The NHC said: “Irma is a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane and will bring life-threatening wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to the northern coast of Hispaniola today, and the Turks and Caicos and southeastern and central Bahamas tonight and Friday.
“Hurricane watches are in effect for the northwestern Bahamas and much of Cuba. Irma is likely to bring dangerous wind, storm surge, and rainfall to portions of these areas on Friday and Saturday.”
NHC update on threat to Florida
The NHC said: “The threat of direct hurricane impacts in Florida over the weekend and early next week has increased. Hurricane watches will likely be issued for portions of the Florida Keys and the Florida peninsula later this morning.”
NHC update on wind speeds
Hurricane Irma winds are still 180 mph (285 km/h). The earliest reasonable arrival time of tropical-storm-force winds in Florida Keys is early morning hours Saturday.
NHC update on the latest warnings
The Government of the Bahamas has issued a Hurricane Warning for the Northwestern Bahamas. All warnings are discontinued for Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra.
Hurricane Warnings: Northwestern Bahamas, Southeastern Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Central Bahamas, Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti and Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le Mole St. Nicholas.
Hurricane Watches: Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo province, Northwestern Bahamas
Hurricane Irma path update: Latest wind arrival time map
Tropical Storm Warnings: Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engano westward to the southern border with Haiti, Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince, Cuba provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas