Story highlights Hurricane Irma is a powerful Category 3 and has rapidly intensified

Irma is in the open Atlantic, and it's too early to know where it will hit

(CNN) While much attention remains on Texas and the destruction left by Hurricane Harvey and its historic rainfall, powerful Hurricane Irma is rapidly intensifying in the open Atlantic and poses a major threat to the Caribbean and potentially to the United States next week.

Satellite image taken at 8 a.m. ET Friday shows Hurricane Irma in the eastern Atlantic

With the storm still five days away from the outermost Caribbean islands and at least a week away from any potential US impacts, there is still a lot of uncertainty about where it will go.

The range of possibilities presented by the forecast models more than a week out literally spreads from Mexico to Canada -- and everywhere in between.

Good bet at a casino is an intense Hurricane Irma at Cat 4 or 5. But it's still red or black on U.S. impacts. Hope it's a "fish storm" pic.twitter.com/w6rWbbGVts — Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) September 1, 2017

Irma was designated a tropical storm Wednesday morning, and by Thursday afternoon, it had strengthened into a large Category 3 hurricane, with winds of 115 mph.

JUST WATCHED How are hurricanes named? Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH How are hurricanes named? 01:38

Such explosive strengthening is known as "rapid intensification," defined by the National Hurricane Center as having its wind speed increase at least 30 knots (35 mph) in 24 hours.

Read More</s>000 WTNT31 KNHC 290839 TCPAT1 BULLETIN Post-Tropical Cyclone Erin Advisory Number 11 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL062019 500 AM EDT Thu Aug 29 2019 ...ERIN BECOMES EXTRATROPICAL... ...THIS IS THE LAST ADVISORY... SUMMARY OF 500 AM EDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...36.1N 71.6W ABOUT 225 MI...365 KM ENE OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH...55 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 15 MPH...24 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1005 MB...29.68 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 500 AM EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Erin was located near latitude 36.1 North, longitude 71.6 West. The post-tropical cyclone is moving toward the north-northeast near 15 mph (24 km/h). A turn toward the northeast and a faster forward motion are expected later today, with this motion continuing through Friday. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. The post-tropical cyclone is expected to strengthen a little on Friday before it is absorbed by a larger extratropical low over eastern Canada Friday night. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb (29.68 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- None NEXT ADVISORY ------------- This is the last public advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center on this system. Additional information on this system can be found in High Seas Forecasts issued by the National Weather Service, under AWIPS header NFDHSFAT1, WMO header FZNT01 KWBC, and online at ocean.weather.gov/shtml/NFDHSFAT1.php $$ Forecaster Beven</s>By Faith Eherts, Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

 AccuWeather Global Headquarters – September 1, 2017 – AccuWeather reports while the Gulf Coast continues to deal with the devastating impacts of Harvey, emergency managers in the United States have another tropical threat to monitor by the name of Irma.

Far across the Atlantic, west of the Cabo Verde Islands, Irma strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane Thursday afternoon. Irma became a tropical storm at midday on Wednesday.

“There is the potential for Irma to ramp up to an even more powerful hurricane this weekend,” according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

“While fluctuation in strength is likely, we expect Irma to become a Category 4 well before it reaches waters near the Lesser Antilles,” Kottlowski said.

Subtle changes in water temperatures and atmospheric conditions, such as slightly drier air and a small patch of strong winds aloft, can cause significant fluctuations in strength in even the strongest of hurricanes.

As of Friday midday, Irma was located about 1,580 miles (2,540 km) east of the Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (177 km/h).

Irma will take about a week to make its trek westward across the Atlantic Ocean. Meteorologists will likely be tracking this storm through the middle of September.

“All interests in the eastern Caribbean will need to monitor the progress of this evolving and dangerous hurricane,” Kottlowski said.

“Surf will begin to build on the east-facing beaches in the Leeward and Windward islands late this weekend into early next week, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

How much seas, surf and winds increase during the first part of next week will depend on the exact track of Irma.

“Steering winds will guide Irma close to the Leeward Islands and then perhaps Puerto Rico and Hispaniola during the middle days of next week,” according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson.

“While the hurricane is strong, it is relatively small in size at this time,” Sosnowski said. “Should this small size continue, severe effects from the storm may be limited to a radius 50 miles (80 km) of the center, while the storm moves through the tropics.”

Locally heavy showers and gusty thunderstorms may extend beyond 100 miles (160 km) from the eye. Torrential rain and flooding will be a concern, if and where the eye wall approaches the islands.

Beyond early next week, there is a wide range as to where Irma may go and the storm may grow in size.

Plenty of atmospheric factors highlighted by non-tropical systems will come into play to determine its path. These non-tropical systems will be moving around.

“At this early stage, it is unclear whether a non-tropical storm will draw Irma toward the U.S., push it away or miss affecting it entirely prior to the middle of the month.,” Kottlowski said.

Possibilities range from a landfall from the northern Caribbean islands to Florida, the Carolinas or Bermuda. There is also a chance the system curves northward and avoids North America entirely or slides into the Gulf of Mexico.

“At some point next week, Irma will begin to take a more west-northwest path,” Kottlowski said. “Whether Irma then continues to curve northwestward and then northward or remains on a steady west-northwest path is uncertain.

More details on the path of Irma will follow in the coming days.

Residents who live along the East Coast or have interests in the Caribbean Sea should take time to review emergency procedures and make sure they are prepared for extreme tropical conditions.

Cruise and shipping interests may need to adjust their route as Irma approaches.</s>Hurricane Central Hurricane Irma a Leeward Islands Threat Next Week; U.S. Impact Still Unknown By Chris Dolce September 01 2017 11:00 AM EDT weather.com 00:59 Why We're Eyeing the Atlantic as Hurricane Season Peaks There's plenty of activity in the Atlantic basin, as hurricane season reaches its climatological peak. You've found an old version of this forecast. Please read out latest forecast here .

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.</s>MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – Hurricane Irma is now a Category 3 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph.

At 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, the center of Hurricane Irma was located 720 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands and 1780 miles east of the Leeward Islands.

Irma is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph. Forecasters believe this general motion will continue through early Friday. The storm is expected to travel more westerly on Saturday and a west-southwestward turn by Sunday.

Irma is expected to remain a powerful hurricane for several days. It’s expected to be a category 4 hurricane east of the Leeward Islands next week.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles, according to the current advisory.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed. The scale estimates potential property damage. Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher are considered major because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage.

Keep checking counton2.com for real-time updates on this story. To get breaking news alerts, download the free News 2 App for iPhone or Android. You can also sign up for email alerts.</s>Hurricane Irma Holds Steady at Category 3 Strength; Caribbean Urged to Be Prepared Just in Case

FLORIDA, United States, Friday September 1, 2017 – Hurricane Irma reached Category 3 strength late yesterday and continues to maintain maximum sustained winds near 110 miles per hour.

And while disaster officials in the Leeward Islands say it’s still not posing a threat at this time, they’re keeping a close eye on it.

At 5 a.m., Hurricane Irma, carrying maximum sustained winds near 115 miles per hour, was about 1,665 miles east of the Leeward Islands and moving towards the west northwest at 12 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami said a turn toward the west is expected by tonight, followed by a turn toward the west-southwest tomorrow.

By 11 a.m., Irma was about 1,580 miles east of the Leeward Islands after barely picking up speed, moving at 13 miles per hour. It was moving in the same direction and maximum sustained winds had reduced slightly to 110 miles per hour.

“Fluctuations in strength, up or down, are possible during the next few days, but Irma is expected to remain a powerful hurricane throughout the weekend,” the NHC said in both advisories.

Residents of the Caribbean, particularly the Leeward Islands, have been advised to keep a close eye on Irma although there are uncertainties about where it will head.

Acting director at the Barbados Meteorological Services Sonia Nurse told the Nation newspaper that the hurricane was still a long while away and although the models were diverging, they did not bring the centre anywhere over the island.

“It would still be to our north east so we will continue to monitor the system. By tomorrow we will have a better idea of where the system is likely to go, but even then it would still be a long way from us,” she said.

Over in Antigua and Barbuda, director of the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) Philmore Mullin said residents should take every precaution as though the island will be impacted.

Irma will reach the area sometime early to mid next week.</s>The centre of Hurricane Irma is over the central Atlantic about 2,500 miles to the east-southeast of the Bahamas and is moving to the west. Earlier this morning Baron’s exclusive satellite derived radar product showed a well developed system with a distinct eye feature. The NHC’s Hurricane forecast keeps Hurricane Irma as a major hurricane through the duration of its track which by next Wednesday morning has the storm approaching the northern parts of the Lesser Antilles. The forecast for Irma after that becomes a little more tricky. We can see there is a large spread in the tropical models after the middle of next week with some models forecasting Irma to have a direct impact on the Bahamas while other models have it curving out to sea and not coming within 500 miles of the Bahamas. It is too early to say for certain that Irma will affect the Bahamas. At this time the main focus on Irma would be this: -It is too early to say for certain Irma is going to affect the Bahamas directly. This is over a week away and model accuracy is not the best this far out in advance. -The timeframe for a potential impact would be in the late next Friday/next Saturday (9/8-9/9). -This is a progressive storm meaning if it did impact the Bahamas it would be for a relatively short period of time (Matthew vs Joaquin). -It would be best to keep track of the storm over the weekend and think about potential preparations ahead of the storm.

HURRICANE Irma, already a Catergory 3 storm in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, is expected to continue intensifying this weekend and become a Category 4 hurricane when it nears the Caribbean next week, according to the weather channel.

On Friday afternoon, the centre of Irma was located just over 1,600 miles east of the Leeward Islands and was moving west-northwest at 10 to 15 mph.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) Irma's intensification has paused, for the time being, after intensifying from a tropical storm Wednesday to Category 3 hurricane Thursday in just 30 hours.

The NHC expects Irma to remain a powerful hurricane for several days but noted that fluctuations in strength, both up and down, are possible through early next week due to the aforementioned eyewall replacement cycles.

For the next five days, Irma will move westward, turn west-southwest, then west-northwest again on the south side of a ridge of high pressure called the Bermuda High, centred in the central Atlantic.

With wind shear remaining low, and increasing oceanic heat content lying ahead, Irma should intensify yet again this weekend, possibly to Category 4 or 5 status, the NHC said.

Irma is expected to reach the eastern Caribbean around Wednesday, and could be a formidably intense hurricane at that time.

Local forecaster Jeffery Greene told The Tribune on Thursday it is still too early to predict Irma's direct path but said current models have the storm coming near the country. Mr Greene said by next week, the Department of Meteorology will be able to say whether or not the Bahamas will be in Irma's path.

"From what we are seeing, Irma is not an immediate threat but it will be a strong potential threat by next week," Mr Greene said.

"It is already a category two storm and will become a major hurricane by (next) Friday possibly by Thursday. By Monday we would know exactly what is happening. Some models have it going west toward Jamaica and curving toward us, some have it heading into the Caribbean Sea, so we aren't sure right now what will happen but we are actively following this hurricane."

This is the first time the name Irma has been used for an Atlantic tropical storm or hurricane. Irma replaced the name Irene after it was retired for the damage it caused in the Bahamas and the US during the 2011 hurricane season.</s>Miami: Hurricane Irma in the central Atlantic is expected to remain a "powerful hurricane" as it heads towards the Caribbean, US weather monitors said on Friday.

Irma, a Category 2 storm, formed just days after the first major hurricane of the Atlantic season, Harvey, unleashed massive rain and floods over Texas.

The hurricane is packing winds of 110 miles (175 kilometers) per hour, and is moving west at a speed of 13 miles per hour.

Irma is swirling in the mid-Atlantic some 1,580 miles east of the Leeward Islands, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said at 1500 GMT.

Its tropical storm-strength winds extend outward up to 90 miles, meaning these strong winds have already reached Puerto Rico and the Antilles Islands.

The storm reached powerful Category 3 status on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale Thursday when its winds were clocked at 115 miles per hour.

"Irma is forecast to remain a powerful hurricane for days," the NHC said, adding that strength fluctuations "are possible" over the weekend.

The hurricane's center is forecast to reach the Lesser Antilles islands on Tuesday.

South Florida meteorologist Craig Setzer said it was too early to tell if the storm would impact Florida or the Gulf of Mexico region.

Anxiety is running high over the risk of another storm in the southern United States after Harvey pounded the Texas coast, making landfall last week as a Category Four hurricane.</s>As the United States continues to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, another hurricane, Irma, formed in the Atlantic Thursday and quickly intensified to a major hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center advised late Thursday afternoon that Irma has become a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph.

The hurricane was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 mph and was about 720 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands, according to the NHC's 5 p.m. update.

NHC officials expect Hurricane Irma to continue with its current motion through Friday with a slight shift westward into Saturday.

Irma is expected to remain a powerful hurricane for several days but fluctuations in strength are possible.

Irma will be a growing concern for the Lesser Antilles over the next week with the rest of the Caribbean and Southeastern United States keeping a close eye on this storm.</s>Interests in the U.S. will likely need to keep an eye on the storm's progress as it heads west. Irma is now a major hurricane.

Interests in the U.S. will likely need to keep an eye on the storm's progress as it heads west. Irma is now a major hurricane.

Family and friends remember Harvey victims as death toll from storm continues to mount.

Family and friends remember Harvey victims as death toll from storm continues to mount.

It's still too soon to say how Irma may impact the U.S. coast, but it's one people should keep an eye on as it churns its way west.

It's still too soon to say how Irma may impact the U.S. coast, but it's one people should keep an eye on as it churns its way west.

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - After a brief period of weakening early Friday, Hurricane Irma has once again strengthened into a category 3 hurricane.

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - After a brief period of weakening early Friday, Hurricane Irma has once again strengthened into a category 3 hurricane.

FIRST ALERT: Irma a powerful hurricane, threat to Carolinas still very uncertain

FIRST ALERT: Irma a powerful hurricane, threat to Carolinas still very uncertain

Explosions that rocked a Texas chemical plant inundated by Harvey's floodwaters are raising questions about the adequacy of industry preparations for the monster storm and stoking fears of more accidents.

Explosions that rocked a Texas chemical plant inundated by Harvey's floodwaters are raising questions about the adequacy of industry preparations for the monster storm and stoking fears of more accidents.

At 5 p.m. Friday, the National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Irma has strengthened back to a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph.

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

The center of Irma was located near latitude 18.8 North, longitude 39.1 West. Irma is moving toward the west near 13 mph (20 km/h). A turn toward the west is expected by Friday night, followed by a turn toward the west-southwest on Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph (195km/h) with higher gusts.

Fluctuations in strength, up or down, are possible during the next few days, but Irma is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through the weekend.

The long range forecast for Irma remains very uncertain, but the models are in pretty good agreement that it will be at least a threat to the Leeward Islands by early next week.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km).
Hurricane Irma, now a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour (175 kilometers per hour), is expected to resume strengthening this weekend increasing the danger when it nears the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean next Thursday.