1. Irma is a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane and will
continue to bring life-threatening wind, storm surge, and rainfall
hazards to the northern coast of Hispaniola today. These hazards
will spread across the Turks and Caicos tonight and the Bahamas
tonight through Saturday.
2. A hurricane watch is in effect for much of Cuba. Irma is likely
to bring dangerous wind, storm surge, and rainfall to portions of
these areas on Friday and Saturday.
3. The threat of dangerous major hurricane impacts in Florida
continues to increase. A hurricane watch has been issued for south
Florida, the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Florida Bay. This
watch will likely be expanded northward later today. Residents in
these areas should heed any advice given by local officials.
4. A storm surge watch has also been issued for portions of south
Florida and the Florida Keys. This means there is the possibility of
life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the
coastline during the next 48 hours in these areas. The Potential
Storm Surge Flooding Map depicts a reasonable worst-case scenario -
the amount of inundation that has a 10 percent chance of being
exceeded. Because the Flooding Map is based on inputs that extend
through 72 hours, it best represents the flooding potential in the
watch area.
5. The chance of direct impacts is increasing in portions of
Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, but it is too early to
specify the magnitude and location of the impacts.
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