St. Thomas being hit by Irma (1:30 PM ET)
Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 1:26 pm
The center of Irma is located around 35 miles east of St. Thomas and is moving west-northwestward at about 16 mph.
Irma's maximum sustained winds are steady at 185 mph based on data from NOAA and Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft.
Hurricane-force winds and heavy rain are being reported in the Virgin Islands. A gust up to 110 mph was reported at Buck Island and a gust of 87 mph has been measured on St. Thomas, as of midday Wednesday. Winds should calm down in St. Thomas by around 3:00 PM ET.
Rain is also spreading across Puerto Rico and the wind will continue to increase throughout the afternoon. If the eye of Irma stays 30-40 miles north of Puerto Rico, the island should be spared from 100 mph winds.
Irma first passed over Barbuda, an island of 1600 residents, with gusts of at least 155 mph overnight into Wednesday morning. Early Wednesday morning, the eye of Irma then moved over St. Martin, St. Barthelemy and near Anguilla, where sustained winds of 117 mph were measured.
Irma moved directly over the island of Barbuda between 1 and 2 a.m. AST, bringing sustained winds of 118 mph before the anemometer broke. Pressure dropped to 916 mb before the barometer on the automated station also broke. A storm surge of about eight feet was also recorded.
Irma's maximum sustained winds are steady at 185 mph based on data from NOAA and Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft.
Hurricane-force winds and heavy rain are being reported in the Virgin Islands. A gust up to 110 mph was reported at Buck Island and a gust of 87 mph has been measured on St. Thomas, as of midday Wednesday. Winds should calm down in St. Thomas by around 3:00 PM ET.
Rain is also spreading across Puerto Rico and the wind will continue to increase throughout the afternoon. If the eye of Irma stays 30-40 miles north of Puerto Rico, the island should be spared from 100 mph winds.
Irma first passed over Barbuda, an island of 1600 residents, with gusts of at least 155 mph overnight into Wednesday morning. Early Wednesday morning, the eye of Irma then moved over St. Martin, St. Barthelemy and near Anguilla, where sustained winds of 117 mph were measured.
Irma moved directly over the island of Barbuda between 1 and 2 a.m. AST, bringing sustained winds of 118 mph before the anemometer broke. Pressure dropped to 916 mb before the barometer on the automated station also broke. A storm surge of about eight feet was also recorded.