Hurricane Irma looks better Friday as it has a more symmetrical appearance with a more well-defined eye, and is back to being a Category 3 storm.
- Hurricane Irma's maximum sustained winds 115 mph
- Storm moving west in the central Atlantic
- Track the tropics: Storm positions, forecast models, formation potential
- Related: Brian McClure compares GFS vs EURO models
Thankfully it doesn't matter at this point since it's thousands of miles away. So far everything is right on track as expected, with Irma to continue a westward path today, then a more southwest path for a couple days.
11 p.m. coordinates:
LOCATION...19.1N 40.5W
ABOUT 2,260 MI...E OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...115 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W AT 13 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...967 MB...28.56 INCHES
Early to mid-next week, Irma will start to move northwest and will likely end up just northeast of the Leeward Islands by Wednesday. We're very confident in the forecast up to that point, which makes sense considering our current technology allows us to be very accurate up through about 6 to 7 days out.
Beyond that is when things are unclear. We know Irma will want to move northwest, but will it come closer to Florida, or will it be pulled more north and turn to the northeast -- these are questions that we won’t be able to answer with more clarity until we get into next week.
I highly recommend reading the article we put on our website today that will give insight into our computer model output and why it’s NOT a good idea to look at only one model in time and assume that’s what is going to happen.
It is, however, a good time to go over your hurricane preparedness checklist. Make sure you have your supply kit, a plan to evacuate if you're in an evacuation zone and asked to leave and check with your insurance company regarding hurricane and flood coverage.
Make sure to watch our Bay News 9 Tropical Updates each hour at :49
• What exactly are the spaghetti plots?
• Information You Need | Supply Checklist
Remember that the spaghetti model plot does not indicate the strength of a system or even development at all. It only predicts where this broad area of low pressure is expected to go.