Irma strengthens and continues on westbound track

MIAMI—Hurricane Irma regained intensity Friday afternoon after a mid-morning adjustment.

In their 4 p.m. CDT advisory, National Hurricane Center forecasters said an eyewall replacement that had helped weaken winds was quickly completed. Sustained winds had returned to 120 mph as Irma continued heading west at 13 mph. The storm was located nearly 1,500 miles from the Leeward Islands.

“Well, that eyewall replacement cycle didn’t last long,” forecasters noted.

Major hurricanes frequently undergo eyewall replacements as their inner cores erode and a new one forms. The replacement often decreases the storm’s intensity slightly but expands its reach. Forecasters have said they expect Irma will undergo several replacements.

With a new center in place, forecasters said it’s likely Irma will now strengthen, although they noted ocean waters are only moderately warm and the storm could face higher wind shear in coming days. Still, they nudged up Irma’s intensity from their earlier advisory to 130 mph from 125 mph at five days and repeated warnings that the storm is expected to near land as a major hurricane.

The storm also began making a westward turn Friday afternoon. A high-pressure ridge—which has been at the center of debate over which path Irma takes—should begin turning the storm to the southwest Saturday and continue steering it in that direction over the weekend. When the hurricane reaches the edge of the ridge, it should begin turning to the northwest. But it’s still too soon to tell when that will occur, making impacts to the U.S. still uncertain.