Hurricane Irma Is A 'Potentially Catastrophic' Storm That Has Even Worried The Experts

Officially now the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic.
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Hurricane Irma churned its way across the northern Caribbean islands on Wednesday with a mix of fierce winds, surf and rain. Meteorologists believe it will hit Florida by Saturday.

The storm made landfall in the Caribbean island of Barbuda around 7am, cutting off phone lines and battering the nearby island of Antigua with heavy rains and wind before heading toward St Martin.

The governors of Puerto Rico and Florida declared states of emergency ahead of the storm on Monday. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

Florida Governor Rick Scott urged residents and tourists to take the threat seriously, warning: β€œDo not ignore evacuation orders. We can rebuild your home, but we cannot rebuild your life.” He warned Irma is β€œbigger, faster and stronger” than Hurricane Andrew, which devastated the state 25 years ago.

Irma is expected to become the second most powerful storm to thrash the US mainland in as many weeks, but its precise trajectory remains uncertain. Hurricane Harvey killed more than 60 people when it ravaged parts of southern Texas and Louisiana late last month.

Irma is shaping up to be such a threat that even the experts are upping their warnings...

1. It’s one of the most powerful hurricanes ever

Hurricane Irma is one of the most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricanes in recorded history. The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) has called the Category 5 hurricane β€œextremely dangerous” and β€œpotentially catastrophic” with maximum sustained wind gusts currently reaching 185mph.

It’s officially now the strongest hurricane to hit the Atlantic Ocean not including the Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico, which, as The Associated Press noted, are more prone to cyclones because the waters are warmer.

Taylor Trogdon, a senior scientist at the NHC, tweeted: β€œI am at a complete and utter loss for words looking at Irma’s appearance on satellite imagery.”

I am at a complete and utter loss for words looking at Irma's appearance on satellite imagery. pic.twitter.com/B0ewFyvcSv

β€” Taylor Trogdon (@TTrogdon) September 5, 2017

Hurricane Allen hit 190mph in 1980, while 2005’s Wilma, 1988’s Gilbert and a 1935 great Florida Key storm all had 185mph winds.

2. It’s appearing on earthquake seismometers

It is so strong it has appeared on seismometers which ordinarily measure earthquakes. Stephen Hicks, a seismologist at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, tweeted: β€œSeismometer recordings from the past 48 hours on Guadaloupe show Cat. 5 #Hurricane #Irma driving closer towards the Lesser Antilles.”

Seismometer recordings from the past 48 hours on Guadeloupe show Cat. 5 #Hurricane #Irma driving closer toward the Lesser Antilles pic.twitter.com/9y3Nuv2Z9E

β€” Stephen Hicks (@seismo_steve) September 5, 2017

He later explained it was likely to be background noise, such as strong winds causing trees to move and ocean waves which were causing the equipment to pick up the storm.

However this doesn’t mean Irma will create earthquakes. Hicks told the Express: β€œEarthquakes occur tens of (miles) deep inside the Earth’s crust, a long way from the influence of weather events and there is no evidence to suggest that hurricanes and storms directly cause earthquakes.”


3. It’s larger than the state of Ohio

Hurricane Irma is larger than the state of Ohio. That’s according to meteorologist and weather graphics designer JD Rudd.

He tweeted: β€œIt’s larger than the state of Ohio, if that helps put it in perspective.”

Hurricane #Irma now a category 5 and it's a beast. It's larger than the state of Ohio, if that helps put it in perspective. pic.twitter.com/JtoZNlONeE

β€” ⚑JD Rudd - News5 (@jdrudd) September 5, 2017

An update on the width of #Irma. It's about 364 miles wide... which is wider than Ohio with room to spare on either side. Wow. pic.twitter.com/iqSDsveEBE

β€” ⚑JD Rudd - News5 (@jdrudd) September 6, 2017

He later updated that Hurricane Irma is: β€œAbout 364 miles wide... which is wider than Ohio with room to spare on either side. Wow.”

The Detroit Free Press points out that as of Wednesday morning, Irma’s eye was almost as big as the Detroit metropolitan area and that the entire hurricane would engulf the state of Michigan.

This is how big Hurricane Irma is. It'd engulf the state of Michigan. pic.twitter.com/bCeTGkjo98

β€” Detroit Free Press (@freep) September 6, 2017

4. More panic buying

If Irma hits the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico today (Wednesday), it could mark the first time two Category 4 or stronger hurricanes have made US landfall in a single year.

Panicked residents and holidaymakers in the Florida and the Caribbean have been clearing out the supermarkets in preparation for the storm. Water and candles are proving especially popular given the propensity for storms to knock out water and electricity services.

A woman buys candles at a supermarket in Pointe-a-Pitre, on the French overseas island of Guadeloupe
A woman buys candles at a supermarket in Pointe-a-Pitre, on the French overseas island of Guadeloupe
HELENE VALENZUELA via Getty Images

Early signs of hurricane Irma: empty water section in supermarket pic.twitter.com/IUDCFYxga1

β€” Cezar Czapla (@CzaplaCezar) September 5, 2017

When the supermarkets in #Miami run out of water, you know a hurricane is on the way.#HurricaneIrma #Florida #Weather pic.twitter.com/acEJChHUEf

β€” Rabbi Avromy Super (@AvromySuper) September 5, 2017
Empty shelves at a supermarket in Marigot, on the French overseas island of Saint Martin
Empty shelves at a supermarket in Marigot, on the French overseas island of Saint Martin
LIONEL CHAMOISEAU via Getty Images

5. Inside the eye of the storm looks like this

If you were wondering what it’s like to fly through the eyewall of such a whopping storm, wonder no more – a weather plane used for research has done just that.

Video of a flight through the eye of #Irma on #NOAA42. Flights on both the WP-3D Orion and G-IV #NOAA49 continue. Credit Nick Underwood/NOAA pic.twitter.com/9ini4bOnYF

β€” NOAAHurricaneHunters (@NOAA_HurrHunter) September 5, 2017

The video was shot aboard National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration flight NOAA42 just before the storm made landfall in Barbuda.

Interior instruments are shown recording data during intense turbulence - but its the views of what’s happening outside - including pelting rain and howling wind - that are positively hair-raising.

6. It (very) visible from space

Satellite footage shared by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows the raw, terrifying power of the storm. It’s little wonder that officials announced the closure of Antigua’s airport on Tuesday with the prayer: β€œMay God protect us all.”

Late afternoon sun casting a shadow on Hurricane #Irma's eye. #GOES16 pic.twitter.com/CQaSgHzVN6

β€” NASA SPoRT (@NASA_SPoRT) September 5, 2017

Zoomed out view. #Irma #GOES16 pic.twitter.com/GftCrnX57h

β€” NASA SPoRT (@NASA_SPoRT) September 5, 2017

7. Irma is bad news for holidaymakers

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and on Tuesday British Airways sent an empty aircraft to Antigua, returning with 326 passengers that evening. On Wednesday the airports at Antigua and St Kitts were closed, prompting the airline to cancel its flights from Gatwick.

Virgin Atlantic has cancelled its flight from London to Antigua on 7 September. While other flights are scheduled to operate as normal, passengers are urged to check the status of their journey before travelling to the airport. Customers booking travel through, from or to Antigua, Havana and Miami between Wednesday and 11 September may rebook or receive full refunds.

Thomas Cook has sent a team of 18 special assistance staff to Cuba and the Dominican Republic to support customers during the hurricane.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is urging British tourists to follow the advice of local authorities and obey any evacuation orders.

Evacuated & everyone now hiding in concrete stairwell of building. Noise of wind insane. Pray this will end soon! #IrmaHurricane #Irma2017

β€” alex woolfall (@woolfallalex) September 6, 2017

Okay I am now pretty terrified so can every non-believer, atheist & heretic please pray for me in #StMaarten as #Irma2017 is here now. πŸ™

β€” alex woolfall (@woolfallalex) September 6, 2017

May be my last tweet as power out and noise now apocalyptic. This is like a movie I never want to see. #Irma2017 #StMaarten 🀞🀞

β€” alex woolfall (@woolfallalex) September 6, 2017

My God this noise! It's like standing behind a jet engine!! Constant booms & bangs. At least concrete stairwell not moving. #Irma2017

β€” alex woolfall (@woolfallalex) September 6, 2017
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