Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Hurricane Irma's path was such that its impact was both far-reaching and devastating, with landfalls in Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Martin, the Bahamas, Cuba, and the United States, all at major hurricane intensity. Furthermore, the size of the storm system meant that destruction was prevalent even in territories well removed from landfall ...
Hurricane Irma was the costliest tropical cyclone in the history of the U.S. state of Florida, before being surpassed by Hurricane Ian in 2022.Irma also was the first major hurricane [nb 1] to strike the state since Wilma in 2005 and the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Charley in 2004.
Irma underwent rapid intensification after reaching hurricane status, becoming a Category 2 hurricane at 18:00 UTC and then a Category 3 hurricane, becoming a major hurricane – around 00:00 UTC on September 1. In a 48-hour period, the hurricane's intensity had increased by 65 mph (105 km/h), a feat achieved only by about 1-in-30 Atlantic ...
According to NASA, the brown satellite images may mean Irma ripped up most of the vegetation. The space agency also noted that "salt spray whipped up by the hurricane can coat and desiccate leaves ...
Additionally, the cumulative impact from the storms has totalled over US$300 billion in damage (2018 dollars), primarily from Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Ian in the 1992, 2017, and 2022 seasons respectively. The most recent hurricane to make landfall in Florida was Hurricane Milton in 2024.
With Irma set to become the second hurricane to hit the United States in as many weeks, Florida emergency management officials began evacuations, ordering tourists to leave the Florida Keys.
The following year, Irma in 2017, was the first major hurricane to strike the state in 12 years. The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the time period was Hurricane Michael, which was a Category 5 on the Saffir–Simpson scale, the highest category on the scale.
While Hurricane Irma left a path of destruction in its wake, the damage of the storm could cost less than predicted.