Hurricane Irma Continues to Move Up the West Coast of Florida

Hurricane Irma made landfall early Sunday morning in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 hurricane, and then again in Marco Island, FL.  Now a Category 2 hurricane, Irma continues to move up the west coast of Florida.  Peak wind gusts reported in Naples earlier Sunday afternoon were recorded over 140 mph as the eye wall moved through.  Offshore winds were so strong that they actually pushed water away from the shore, causing a 'negative' storm surge to occur in a few coastal cities.  As Irma passes winds will shift onshore, coming in from the Gulf of Mexico, bringing a significant amount of water *back to the shores - and that's when the high storm surge will occur.  Gauges in Naples, FL recorded a water rise of nearly four feet on the backside of the eye of Irma.

The latest track from the National Hurricane Center continues to forecast Irma hugging the west coast, moving through Ft. Meyers, Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Tampa through early Monday morning.  While this side of Florida does not typically experience hurricanes, Tampa has not had an impact from a hurricane since 1921.

By the time the storm reaches the Florida/Georgia line it will have weakened to a Tropical Storm, still producing sustained winds over 40 mph and wind gusts to 70 mph.  Heavy rainfall will accompany the storm up through Tennessee, before weakening a bit further and getting caught up in the jet stream by the middle of the week and pushed back out to the east coast.

Another threat will be the possibility of quick, spin up tornadoes.  A Tornado Watch has been issued for much of central and north Florida through Sunday night, with several Tornado Warnings already being issued. 

For the latest on Hurricane Irma, click here.