Irma Intensifying Rapidly in the Atlantic

WUFT | By Jeff Huffman

Published August 31, 2017 at 12:57 PM EDT

Irma is now a hurricane. In fact, it strengthened from a Tropical Storm to a Category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph in just six hours, quickly on its way to becoming the season’s second Major Hurricane this weekend. Irma is at least five days away from any land, and it would be at least ten days from posing apotentialthreat to the U.S.

The 11 am Thursday advisory from the National Hurricane Center

As of the 11 am advisory from the National Hurricane Center Thursday, Irma was moving west-northwest at 15 mph and expected to become a Category 4 storm by Tuesday, with winds up to 130 mph. The five-day forecast for Irma includes a continued track to the west-northwest across the very warm Atlantic Ocean through Saturday, then a turn more west-southwestward toward the Lesser Antilles. Beyond day five, a credible forecast on the track and strength of Irma is difficult to pin down.

Confidence is high that Irma will be a long-lived hurricane that will be within at least a few hundred miles of the Lesser Antilles about a week from now. Where it goes thereafter is nearly impossible to project at this point. Notice how different the two most reliable forecast models were in their recent runs.

Here's why I won't answer questions on IF or WHEN #Irma might hit Florida. Ask me again in about 5 or 6 days. #flwx https://t.co/DH1VYQTZzK pic.twitter.com/iw6sXrYNVc— Jeff Huffman (@HuffmanHeadsUp) August 31, 2017

There is a realistic possibility that Irma could impact the United States, including Florida, in about ten days from now. However, any type of forecast scenario this far out would not be responsible to share and certainly not worth reacting to just yet. In fact, a plausible outcome as it relates to a potential landfall may not be clear until this weekend or early next week.

While it far too soon to discuss any specifics on how Irma may threaten any land areas, Floridians are encouraged to pay close attention to future advisories on Irma and bring any hurricane seasonal preparations to completion in the coming days. The peak of the Atlantic season is only two weeks away.