Irma Bearing Down on the Florida Keys, Very Powerful Wind and Surge Tonight and Sunday...

This is the latest Hurricane Warning Statement from the National Weather Service in Miami:

...HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...
...STORM SURGE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED
    - Miami
    - Miami Beach
    - Key Biscayne
    - Perrine
    - Princeton

* WIND
- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Equivalent Strong Tropical Storm force
  wind
    - Peak Wind Forecast: 50-65 mph with gusts to 85 mph
    - Window for Tropical Storm force winds: until early Monday

     morning

- CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: High
    - The wind threat has decreased from the previous assessment.
    - Remain braced against the reasonable threat for hurricane
      force wind of 74 to 110 mph of equivalent Category 1 to 2
      intensity.
    - To be safe, efforts should fully focus on protecting life.
      Properties remain subject to extensive wind impacts.
    - Now is the time to urgently hide from the wind. Failure to
      adequately shelter may result in serious injury or loss of
      life. Remain sheltered until the hazardous wind subsides.

- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Unfolding
    - Potential impacts from the main wind event are unfolding.

* STORM SURGE
  LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Life-threatening storm surge possible
    - Peak Storm Surge Inundation: The potential for 7-10 feet
      above ground somewhere within surge prone areas
    - Window of concern: early Sunday morning until early Monday
      afternoon

- CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Extreme
    - The storm surge threat has remained nearly steady from the
      previous assessment.
    - Emergency plans should include a reasonable threat for
      extreme storm surge flooding greater than 9 feet above
      ground.
    - To be safe, aggressively prepare for the potential of
      devastating to catastrophic storm surge flooding impacts.
      Evacuation efforts should now be brought to completion.
      Evacuations must be complete before driving conditions
      become unsafe.
    - Life-threatening inundation is possible. Failure to heed
      evacuation orders may result in serious injury, significant
      loss of life, or immense human suffering. Leave if
      evacuation orders are given for your area. Consider
      voluntary evacuation if recommended. Poor decisions may
      result in being cut off or needlessly risk lives.

  POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Devastating to Catastrophic
    - Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding
      greatly accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural
      damage to buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly
      compounded from considerable floating debris. Locations may
      be uninhabitable for an extended period.
    - Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or
      severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may
      become stressed.
    - Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible.
    - Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers.
      Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many
      lifted onshore and stranded.

* FLOODING RAIN
  LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Flood Watch is in effect
    - Peak Rainfall Amounts: Additional 12-18 inches, with
      locally higher amounts

- CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: High
    - The flooding rain threat has remained nearly steady from
      the previous assessment.
    - Emergency considerations should include a threat of
      flooding.
    - Be safe and remain ready to protect against flooding rain
      impacts.
    - If flood related watches and warnings are in effect, heed
      recommended actions.

  - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Extensive
    - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and
      rescues.
    - Ditches and canals may rapidly overflow their banks in
      multiple places. Flood control systems and barriers may
      become stressed.
    - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple
      communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or
      washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover
      escape routes. Streets, parking lots and underpasses become
      submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road
      and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.

* TORNADO
- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
   - Situation is favorable for tornadoes

- CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Moderate
    - The tornado threat has remained nearly steady from the
      previous assessment.
    - Emergency considerations should include a reasonable threat
      for tornadoes.
    - Be safe and remain ready to protect against tornado
      impacts. Stay informed.
    - Listen for tornado watches and warnings. If a tornado
      approaches, quickly move to the safest place within your
      shelter.

- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Significant
    - The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the
      execution of emergency plans during tropical events.
    - Several places may experience tornado damage with a few
      spots of considerable damage, power loss, and
      communications failures.
    - Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile
      homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped
      or uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed
      about. Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll.

The worst impacts from Irma are now expected to be across Southwest Florida and along west coast from Key West to Tampa.  The storm came ashore last night along the northern coast of Cuba.  The last information on Irma from the National Hurricane Center:

BULLETIN
Hurricane Irma Advisory Number  42
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL112017
1100 AM EDT Sat Sep 09 2017

...IRMA CONTINUES TO POUND THE NORTH COAST OF CUBA...
...FORECAST TO RESTRENGTHEN WHILE HEADING FOR SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE
KEYS...

SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...22.8N 79.8W
ABOUT 90 MI...145 KM ESE OF VARADERO CUBA
ABOUT 175 MI...285 KM SE OF KEY WEST FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...125 MPH...205 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...941 MB...27.79 INCHES

The storm has weakened as it moved over Cuba last night. The storm is expected to intensity 

a little before making landfall across the Keys early Sunday morning.

George Wright is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist for Wright Weather Consulting, LLC. Visit our website at WrightWeather.com. Follow George Wright on Twitter @gwweather.