New Delhi:
State of emergency has been declared in Florida as according to reports, Hurricane Irma is now the most strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean outside of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Moreover, the category 5 storm continued to strengthen further on Tuesday with wind speeds up to 175 miles per hour, National Hurricane Center stated.
Though there is an excisting confusion regarding the landfall of the storm, according to NHC, Florida may be impacted later in the weekend. While the Leeward Islands is expected to be affected by the Category 5 hurricane on Tuesday, population in the British and US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico may become the victim of the same.
Moreover, Irma is expected to raise sea levels by as much as 7 to 11 feet in the Leeward Islands disrupting the lives of the residents further. British and US Virgin Islands also expected to face a similar flood-like situation while Puerto Rico could witness sea levels rise by 1 to 4 feet.
Irma could also pour 4 to 8 inches of rain, and as much as 12 inches in certain areas. "These rainfall amounts may cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," the National Hurricane Center said.
8 am Special Advisory: #Irma is now a category 5 #hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) More: https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/QU1LWq7QsA
— NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) September 5, 2017
Also Read | Hurricane Irma: Caribbean Islands, Florida brace for powerful storm
"Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days," NHC said.
"This is not an opportunity to go outside and try to have fun with a hurricane," U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp warned people on Tuesday.
Besides Kenneth, Florida governor Rick Scott took to micro-blogging site Twitter to warn people on Tuesday and said, "Governor Scott Declares State of Emergency to Prepare Florida for Hurricane Irma."
Gov. Scott Declares State of Emergency to Prepare Florida for Hurricane Irma https://t.co/tzao5UWxKg
— Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) September 4, 2017
At present the hurricane is moving west at a speed of 14 mph and is expected turn toward the west-northwest tonight. The storm’s intensity may fluctuate, but according to forecasters Irma will stay a Category 4 or 5 hurricane in the next couple days.
Also Read: Indian student rescued from swollen lake in hurricane-hit Texas dies
However, rescue operation in Texas is still underway as the state yet to be recovered from the devastating floods brought by Hurricane Harvey a couple of days back.
