Hurricane Irma DAMAGE: shock moment ferocious winds UPROOT trees in storm-battered Florida
WATCH the shocking moment deadly Hurricane Irma winds uproot a tree in storm-battered Fort Lauderdale as owner helplessly watches on.
Hurricane Irma uproots tree in shocking footage
Hurricane Irma, the strongest ever Atlantic Ocean hurricane on record, left a terrifying path of destruction behind it as it moved across the Caribbean and towards the United States, killing at least 22 and injuring hundreds more.
Shocking footage emerged showing a tree being uprooted by Irma's powerful winds in a garden in Fort Lauderdale.
The owner of the house can be heard gasping as a particularly strong gust of wind topples the tree.
Hurricane Irma update: Home owner left in shock as deadly winds topple tree
Despite being downgraded to a category 1 storm, Hurricane Irma still risks causing death and destruction through storm surges and 85mph winds.
Earlier today the NOAA's National Hurricane Center has warned residents of the deadly threat, tweeting in all capitals “MOVE AWAY FROM THE WATER”.
The NOAA continued: "Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 85 mph (135 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional weakening is forecast, and Irma is expected to become a tropical storm over far northern Florida or southern Georgia later today.
"This is a life-threatening situation."
Branson reveals damage to Necker Island after Hurricane Irma
At least three people have died in the Florida Keys archipelago due to the battering storm.
More than 4.4 million homes and businesses also lost power as the storm continued to ravage the state.
Around 6.5 million people, about a third of the state's population, had been ordered to evacuate southern Florida. Residents fled to shelters, hotels or relatives in safer areas.
The latest NHC 5am update said Irma will "continue to bring life-threatening winds" to a large part of Florida.
Hurricane Irma damage: Florida's southern coast was heavily hit by the powerful winds
They said: "Significant river flooding is likely over the next five days in the Florida peninsula and southern Georgia, where average rainfalls totals of 8 to 15 inches are expected.
"Wind hazards from Irma will continue to spread northward through Georgia and into portions of Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina."
Storm surge warnings were discontinued for the Florida Keys and the southern Florida coast.