Hurricane Irma Strengthens To Category 4

The National Hurricane Center was keeping close tabs on Hurricane Irma Monday evening as she moved on a path toward the Leeward and Virgin Islands. The Category 4 storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 mph while following a course that may eventually bring her near Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.

As of the hurricane center’s 5 p.m. Sept. 4 update on Hurricane Irma, the storm was located about 490 miles east of the Leeward Islands. She was moving west at 13 mph. Forecasters say hurricane warnings have gone up for Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Monterrat, St. Kitts, Nevis and other interests in the region.

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A hurricane watch had been issued for the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, among others. Hurricane warnings mean that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within 36 hours. Watches mean conditions are possible.

As of Monday evening, hurricane-force winds extended out from Irma by 40 miles from the center. Tropical-storm force winds were extending outward by 140 miles.

Hurricane Irma is expected to follow a path that will bring her toward the northern Cuban coastline as a major storm by Saturday. If the course holds steady, she may impact Florida.

"There is an increasing chance of seeing some impacts from Irma in the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys later this week and this weekend," the hurricane center posted on Facebook shortly after its 5 p.m. update.

While it’s still too early to tell precisely where Irma might make landfall, forecasters say she bears close monitoring. The storm is expected to strengthen through Tuesday night at least.

Irma formed during the peak of the 2017 hurricane season. Forecasters call the period between mid-August and mid-October the “season within the season.” This eight-week period “is often the most active and dangerous time for tropical cyclone activity,” according to NOAA.

The peak period is historically responsible for major spikes in tropical weather activity, NOAA said. In fact, it accounts for roughly 78 percent of all tropical storm days on record. It is also the period when 87 percent of the category 1 and 2 hurricane days on record occurred. In addition, this period is responsible for “a whopping 96 percent of the major (category 3, 4 and 5) hurricane days.”

The conditions gradually become less ripe for development in mid-October when increased wind shear tends to reappear and water and air temperatures cool.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 each year. Average seasons produce about 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes. Three of the hurricanes are generally deemed major.

Residents readying for the ongoing season can get tips and advice on the federal government’s Ready.gov website.

Graphics courtesy of the National Hurricane Center