Will Hurricane Irma Hit New York City?

NEW YORK CITY, NY – Hurricane Irma was powering through the Caribbean Sea Tuesday, churning a path toward the East Coast and packing sustained 175 mph winds that had Puerto Rico, Cuba and Florida on high alert.

But is it possible that Hurricane Irma could find its way to New York? Experts say it's too early to tell. For more information about this storm and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.

The National Hurricane Center said it's impossible to say where, if anywhere, the powerful storm could strike the U.S., but forecasters are warning everyone in coastal areas to be prepared.

Watch: Hurricane Irma Pummels The Caribbean; Florida Could Be Next

AccuWeather said the storm could take a sharp turn to the north and head toward Georgia, North Carolina or even farther north. That is just one of three potential paths the storm could take.

If it takes a more southern route – which forecasters think is the more likely scenario – south Florida would start to be buffeted by Irma's rain and wind as early as this weekend, according to AccuWeather. If the storm tracks more to the south and west, the Florida Panhandle would be in danger of a direct strike early next week, according to AccuWeather.

Another scenario still on the table is that Irma curves northward and misses the East Coast entirely. This would still generate large surf and rip currents along the East Coast and off New York's coast, according to AccuWeather. However, this scenario is the least likely to occur at this point.

And another storm is already forming behind Irma.

On Tuesday morning, the hurricane center said there is an "increasing chance" that Irma will impact the Florida peninsula and the Florida keys. After that, the unpredictable nature of hurricanes makes an exact forecast difficult.

"(I)t is still too early to determine what direct impacts Irma might have on the continental United States," the hurricane center said in an 8 a.m. post. "However, everyone in hurricane-prone areas should ensure that they have their hurricane plan in place."

Forecasters say hurricane warnings have gone up for Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Kitts, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and other nearby islands.

A hurricane watch has been issued for Guadeloupe and the Dominican Republic, among other interests in the region. Hurricane warnings mean that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within 36 hours. Watches mean conditions are possible.

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 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.

Patch's Sherri Lonon contributed to this report.

Main Image courtesy of the National Hurricane Center