Florida, islands prepare for massive hurricane

HURRICANE Irma strengthened yesterday into an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane, meteorologists said, sparking alarm and flooding alerts as it barrelled towards the Caribbean.

The monster hurricane – coming on the heels of Harvey, which struck Texas and Louisiana late last month – was expected to make landfall along the string of French islands including Guadeloupe late yesterday before heading to Haiti and Florida.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre in its bulletin at 2pm (SA time) said Irma had strengthened to the most powerful Category 5, packing winds of 280km/h.

The front was moving west at 22km/h, and was expected to drop 100mm to 200mm of rain when it hit land.

“These rainfall amounts may cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides,” the NHC warned.

Irma’s centre was located about 515km east of the West Indies’ Leeward Islands, the NHC said, urging that preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. Schools and government offices in Guadeloupe have been ordered shut, while hospitals are stocking up on medicines, food and drinking water.

Popular holiday islands St Barthelemy and St Martin are expected to be especially hard hit.

The top French official of the islands, Anne Laubies, said in St Martin’s capital Marigot that the hurricane posed the greatest threat in 20 years, with more people endangered in flood-prone areas because of a rise in population.

Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency, saying Irma posed a severe threat to the entire state of Florida, barely a week after Harvey claimed at least 60 lives.

Category Five hurricanes are rare and are capable of inflicting life-threatening winds, storm surges and rain.

A hurricane of this magnitude can tear off roofing, shatter windows, uproot palm trees and turn them into projectiles that can kill people.

Irma is projected to make landfall today, bringing water levels up to 3m above normal levels, rainfall of up to 250mm in areas, and large and destructive waves, the NHC said.