MESSAGE: Hurricane Irma becomes a Major Category 3 Hurricane over the Eastern Atlantic Ocean.

THE SITUATION:

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, as at 5:00 pm (AST), Thursday August 31, 2017, Hurricane Irma, the ninth (9th) named storm of the 2017 Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Season has intensified to a major category 3 hurricane in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane Irma was located at 17.3N and 34.8W. Irma has maximum sustained winds of 115 mph with a minimum central pressure of 967 mb. Environmental conditions appear generally conducive for further development while it moves westward near 12 mph. Further strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

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MESSAGE: Hurricane Watches issued for Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis.

THE SITUATION:

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, as at 500 PM AST, Sunday September 3, 2017, the center of Hurricane Irma was located near latitude 17.6 North, longitude 49.8 West. Irma is moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h). A westward to west-south-westward motion with some reduction in forward speed is expected through Monday night. On the forecast track, the center of Irma is forecast to approach the northern Leeward Islands late Tuesday.

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MESSAGE: Irma strengthens to a category 4 hurricane as it heads toward the Leeward Islands

THE SITUATION:

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida, as at 5:00pm AST (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Irma was located near latitude 16.7 North, longitude 54.4 West. Irma is moving toward the west near 13 mph (20 km/h) and this general motion is expected to continue into Tuesday, followed by a turn toward the west-northwestward late Tuesday September 05, 2017. On the forecast track, the center of Irma will move near or over portions of the northern Leeward Islands Tuesday night and early Wednesday.

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MESSAGE: Potentially Catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Nearing the Northern Leeward Islands while Tropical Storm Jose forms over the open Atlantic

THE SITUATION:

The latest advisory issued by the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami, Florida at 5:00 PM AST (2100 UTC), reports that Irma remains an extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 185 mph (295 km/h) with higher gusts. The distinct eye of Hurricane Irma was located near latitude 17.1 North, longitude 59.8 West. Irma is moving toward the west near 15 mph (24 km/h).

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