Hurricane Irma DAMAGE update: First signs of Key West devastation – STORM SURGE STRIKES
HURRICANE IRMA has left a trail of devastation in its path and threatens to do yet more damage as the storm touches down in Florida.
Water flows through Key West as Hurricane Irma hits
Hurricane Irma, the strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane ever has killed at least 22 people as it devastated much of the Caribbean, has reached landfall in the Florida for the first time.
Florida residents have already been pummelled with brutal wind and rainfall, but are now expecting worse as they brace themselves for the full force of Hurricane Irma.
Floridians, hoping to offer the world Hurricane Irma damage updates, have taken to Twitter as power lines and trees have been downed by the devastating weather.
One video shot by a Miami Herald journalist shows the moment her neighbourhood loses power over Irma damages as an electricity transformer.
Taken from behind trees and a home, Emily Michot’s footage shows wind, rain and lightning pummelling Miami.
After several seconds the power suddenly cuts, killing the street lights in the area.
Other footage from around Key West shows uprooted trees completely shed of their leaves after being faced with the severe wind.
Roads have been blocked by storm surges, which have dumped vast amounts of sea water on Key West.
Miami Shores experiences power cut as Hurricane Irma strikes
Key West's national weather service issued an Extreme Wind Warning for Lower Keys in Monroe County.
NHC Atlantic OPS tweeted: "NORTHERN EYEWALL OF HURRICANE #IRMA REACHES THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS. EYE IS 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF KEY WEST."
The Weather Network US also warned: "Hurricane Irma is Cat 4 currently and is moving into the Keys. This will have tornado-like damage in the eyewall."
Hurricane Irma brings destruction as it makes its way to Miami
While Key West International Airport is picking up a sustained wind speed of 51 mph (82 km/h) with a gust to 70 mph.
It comes after a National Ocean Service station Molasses Reef, Florida has recently recorded a sustained wind speed of 66 mph (105 km/h) with an individual gust reaching 85 mph (137 km/h).
A private weather station at Alligator Reef Light, Florida, recently reported a sustained wind of 64 mph (103 km/h) with a gust to 82 mph (132 km/h).
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