Hurricane Irma is now a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph with higher gusts.
Irma is a deadly storm, and the final track that it will take is still very unclear. The latest model runs (see photo) have been consistent with the storm moving to the West-North-West and then making a rather abrupt turn to the North in about five days.
When reading tracking projections, don't just focus on the black dots that represent the hurricane but also the broader area defined by, in this case, the white lines. This is the "cone of uncertainty"-- the hurricane has the potential to track toward any area encompassed by this cone. Normally, as the days progress, this "cone" will shrink as the many tracking models begin to agree on more specific landfall information. But that does not always happen. Hurricane Matthew was a good example of that.
Our best advice at this point in time is to develop your plan-- where will you go if it is finally determined that the storm will head this way? Do you have gas in your car? Do you have your valuable papers (insurance, etc.) collected so that you can take them with you? If you take medications, do you have a supply to last you at least two weeks? What will you do with your pets? And more.
If you do not have a plan, we recommend that you visitwww.ready.gov which offers good advice on how to prepare for a hurricane. The storm is still far enough out that you do have time to effectively prepare for it, should it head this way.
As we learn more, we will post information that pertains to our area on www.nmb.us, Facebook/cityofnmb and Twitter @cityofnmb. We will also continue to use our Email News Groups.
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