4:55 pm EST: Dangerous storm surge to follow eye of Hurricane Irma
The entire Florida West Coast is bracing itself for an extreme storm surge "immediately after the eye passage," according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The direction of Irma's path is expect to push 30 miles (45k) to south-southeast Fort Myers.

According to the NHC, maximum winds have reached 110mph (175km/h).

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:

• South Santee River southward to Jupiter Inlet
• North Miami Beach southward around the Florida peninsula to the Ochlockonee River
• Florida Keys
• Tampa Bay

4:51 pm EST: Hurricane Irma wind gust forecasts increase to 140-145mph along Florida coast
Sustained winds of 100mph is expected along the entire coast including Tampa Bay and Naples, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

4:45 pm EST: Two tornadoes threaten Southern Florida
The Volusia County Emergency Management unit tweeted: "Tornado warning issued for Volusia County valid 4:44 pm - 5:00 pm go to an interior room away from windows."

While St Augustine is under a tornado warning until 5:15 pm EST.

4:25 pm EST: Hurricane Irma to devastate Bonita Springs imminently with 100mph gusts
Residents near Bonita Springs in southern Lee County must "prepare imminent wind gusts over 100mph" as Hurricane Irma’s eyewall is arriving.

4:21 pm EST: Irma storm surge: Water levels in Tampa Bay now more than 4ft below normal tide levels.
Preliminary observed water levels by the NOAA illustrate the sea is currently receding in Tampa Bay, Florida.

A storm surge is expected to flood Tampa Bay when the eye hits, with at least 4-5 inches flooded once the storm moves by and onshore flow kicks in.

4 pm EST: Hurricane Irma path’s centre shifts just inland near Naples
The Category 3 hurricane is moving towards Naples, Florida, where the city will feel the brunt of the storm after making landfall in Marco Island just under an hour ago.

Irma's centre is about 10 miles (15km) away from Naples, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The NHC said, "A 130mph (209 km/h) wind gust was recently reported by the Marco Island Police Department.

A 71mph (114 km/h) sustained wind and 97mph (156 km/h) gust was recently reported at a weather station in Naples.

3:45 pm EST: Hurricane Irma's eye makes LANDFALL at Marco Island
The Category 3 Hurricane made landfall in in Marco Island, southwest Florida, at 3:35 pm EST, according to The National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The NHC said, "A 130mph wind gust was recently reported by the Marco Island Police Department."

3:40 pm EST: Rick Scott, Governor of Florida, warns "DO NOT GO IN" the water as Irma's path roars over Florida.
Hurricane Irma is currently battering the whole of southern Florida, 130mph winds and heavy rain.

Rick Scott warned residents who did not evacuate after tweeting, "As #Irma approaches, water is receding from bays, rivers & other waterways. DO NOT GO IN. The water will surge back & could overtake you."

3:30 pm EST: Miami beach has launched its city curfew for the second day running in wake of Hurricane Irma
Hurricane Irma continues to engulf southern Florida, and Miami beach has launched its city curfew for the second day running.

People caught roaming the deserted streets of Miami will effectively be arrested, as a curfew will in effect starting tonight at 6 pm EST until 7 am EST tomorrow.

3:20 pm EST: Second construction crane collapses on roof of Miami complex
Local news reports show Hurricane Irma dealing a blow to a construction crane, as its boom snapped off its tower and landed on the unfinished building.

There are more than 20 construction cranes around the city, and authorities urged people who live near them to go to shelters or friends' rather than stay home.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that the centre of dangerous Hurricane Irma is nearing Naples, Florida.

NWS Miami tweets, "130mph wind gust just recorded at Marco Island Emergency Operations Center."

Winds of 55mph (88km/h) and a gust of 82mph (132km/h) was recently reported at Naples Municipal Airport.

And a sustained wind of 63mph (102 km/h) and a gust of 84mph (135 km/h) was recently reported at Opa-Locka Executive Airport.

It comes as the NOAA issues a stark warning that "storm surge flooding has accounted for nearly HALF OF THE DEATHS associated with landfalling cyclones over the past 50 years."

2:50 pm EST: Hurricane Irma's wind shift to cause catastrophic storm surge
Pictures show offshore winds in Naples lowering water level 3 feet below normal.

Once the winds shifts, the storm surge will roar back in - sinking the city below more than 15 feet of water.

2:15 pm EST: National Hurricane Center (NHC) issue all-caps Hurricane Irma warning, "MOVE AWAY FROM THE WATER!"
Irma's path will make its way ashore, causing water levels along the southwest coast of Florida to "rapidly rise in a matter of minutes."

Water levels from the storm surge to rise rapidly in the Naples and Marco Island area of Florida, according to the NHC.

The NHC said, "Life-threatening storm surge inundation of 10 to 15 feet above ground level is expected in this area. The hurricane has been downgraded to a Category 3 storm."

2 pm EST: Hurricane Irma continues to "batter" south Florida
Irma's is continuing to "batter" south Florida with life-threatening winds, rain and storm-surges, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned.

A 2 pm EST update by the NHC warned Floridians to take extreme care as Hurricane Irma storm moves slowly north.

The hurricane has been downgraded to a Category 3 storm, the NHC added.

They said strongest winds are expected in the Marco Island and Naples areas "within the next couple of hours."

Meanwhile the hurricane warnings previously in place in the Cuban provinces of Matanzas and La Habana have been discontinued.

1 pm EST: Hurricane Irma battering ALL of South Florida
In a 1 pm EST update, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported said: A 77mph (124 km/h) sustained wind and a 92mph (148 km/h) gust have been recently reported at the National Data Buoy Center C-MAN station at Fowey Rock.

"A 92mph (148 km/h) wind gust has been recently reported at the Federal Aviation Administration station at Miami International Airport."

12:45 pm EST: Collier County set to be battered by Hurricane Irma’s eyewall
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has announced a dire warning about the South-west coast of Florida.

Hurricane Irma will pummel the Collier County, with a radar detected winds stronger 115mph, "associated with the eyewall" of the storm, are approaching the coast 10 miles south of Everglades City. Nearby are Naples, Marco Island, Chokoloskee, and Golden Gate Estates.

The NHC advises, "The safest place to be is in a reinforced interior room away from windows. Get under a table or other piece of sturdy furniture. Use mattresses, blankets or pillows to cover your head and body. Remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions."

12:15 pm EST: Hurricane Irma now imposes a life-threatening situation, the Governor of Florida Rick Scott warned.
As Irma's path passes Key West and homes-in on mainland Florida, Mr Scott urged families to not wait for the storm to be over when the winds slow down.

He advised residents the storm surge could rush in and it could kill you. "Families must prepare."

Mr. Scott has been speaking with the US President every single day to give updates and has been liaising with the Federal Government.

12:01 pm EST: Hurricane Irma smashes another record
Meteorologist Philip Klotzbach tweeted, "#Irma has been a hurricane for 10.5 days - the longest-lived Atlantic hurricane since Ivan (2004)."

Devastating storm surges are meanwhile pounding the coast of Florida, with meteorologist Eric Fisher reporting a rising surge in Miami.

"Surge about 4 feet, high tide approaching," he tweeted.

11:45 am EST: Florida airports halt flight over deadly cyclone
Several airports across Florida have hated commercial flights, as the raging hurricane continues to batter the state.

Daytona Beach Airport is planning to cease flights at 6 pm EST tonight, followed by Jacksonville at 7 pm EST.

Other airports such as Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Fort Myers and Melbourne have closed down or cancelled all flights early last week and over the weekend.

Miami Airport said on Friday evening at 9:50 pm EST, "Last flight has departed from MIA. There are no scheduled flights for Saturday and Sunday."

11:25 am EST: Hurricane winds collapse crane over Miami
Hurricane Irma’s cataclysmic winds have caused a crane to collapse on the city of Miami.

The construction crane was latched onto a building on 3rd Street, between Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 2nd Avenue, before it buckled in the wind and fell onto another building.

No injuries have been reported but city officials have warned residents to about the possibility of accidents around construction cranes.

Meanwhile Irma continued to show off its destructive powers when it uprooted an entire tree in Arrowhead area of Davie.

The Davie Police Department is urging people to stay indoors and out of the danger.

11:24 am EST: Hurricane Irma's death toll on the rise
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has confirmed that the number of people killed on the Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin, has now risen to four.

This Dutch Government estimated earlier on Friday that two people had died and 34 had been wounded as a result of the deadly cyclone.

11:10 am EST: Tropical Storm Warning issued over the Bahamas
The Government of the Bahamas has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for Bimini and Grand Bahama.

The NHC also updated the storm’s location and placed it about 80 miles (125 km) south-southeast of Naples.

11:09 am EST: Emergency curfew issued in St. Petersburg
The City of St. Petersburg has issued an emergency curfew starting at 5 pm EST, and will remain in effect throughout the storm.

St. Petersburg has also run out of sandbags, after its stockpiles have been drained – an estimated 152,000 bags have been handed out.

Residents are advised to fill their bags bags with alternate materials, such as topsoil or cat litter.

Public schools across Pinellas County meanwhile will remain closed through Tuesday.

11 am EST: Hurricane Irma heads towards southwest Florida coast
The National Hurricane Center is tracking Irma's position roughly 80 miles (125 km) south-southeast of Naples, and about 115 miles (180 km) south-southeast of Fort Myers.

Irma is now travelling towards the north at 9mph (15 km/h), with sustained wind speeds of up to 130mph (215 km/h).

The NHC said, "Latest observations from the Air Force Hurricane Hunters had flight-level winds that corresponded to surface winds near 110 kt. Thus, given sampling considerations, the 115-kt intensity is retained for this advisory. Irma should maintain this intensity until the center reaches the southwest Florida coast, and then begin to weaken while the system interacts with the landmass of the Florida peninsula."

It added, "More rapid weakening is likely after Irma moves into the southeastern United States in 24-36 hours, and the cyclone should weaken to a remnant low in 72 hours or sooner."

10:30 am EST: More than 1.35 million stranded without power
More than a million people across 24 Florida counties are currently without access to power, accordant to Florida Power and Light.

The tense situation is closely being monitored by the White House, and neighbouring states which are in direct contact with Governor Rick Scott.

"The President and Vice President are also receiving a briefing this morning," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

Meanwhile Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who lives with his family in Miami, expressed his "deep concern" for the unfolding chain of events. "This is a very disturbing chain of events," he said.

9:51 am EST: Tornado Warning extended along coast
The Miami office of the National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning valid until 10am EST, along West Palm Beach, Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens.

String rainbows of rain and wind are meanwhile lashing the Miami metropolitan area, with gusts of 80 to 100mph expected.

Maximum sustained winds are currently at 130mph (215 km/h), and Irma is travelling north-northwest at a speed of 8mph (13 km/h).

9:39 am EST: Hurricanes Irma and Harvey make history
Meteorologist Philip Klotzbach tweeted, "Harvey and Irma are first consecutive Atlantic named storms making US landfall as major hurricanes since Ivan and Jeanne (2004)."

Irma's eye has officially made landfall as a category 4 hurricane over Florida Keys with a landfall pressure of pressure of 929 mb – the lowest since Hurricane Katrina's 920 mb in 2005.

The cyclone is also the first category 4 hurricane to land in Florida Keys since Hurricane Donna on the same date in 1960.

9:30 am EST: Police urge residents not to fire guns at Irma
Florida Police have warned people not to fire off their weapons at the hurricane, after thousands of people responded to a "Shoot at Hurricane Irma" Facebook event.

Over 50,000 people have expressed confirmed their attendance at the event, which said: "Let's show Irma that we shoot first."

Ryon Edwards, who created the tongue-in-cheek event out of "stress and boredom," posted on the Facebook page, "Well guys, it's here. The moment we've been waiting for."

"It was cool to see the response this got from Facebook. On another note, I've learned that about 50% of the world could not understand sarcasm to save their lives. Carry on."

9:15 am EST: Georgia issues a Hurricane Watch in Atlanta
A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for large parts of north and central Georgia, including the city of Atlanta.

City officials are advising residents to remain alert to the weather, and to plan emergency kits in the event conditions deteriorate.

9 am EST: Lower Florida Keys now in the eye of the storm
At 9 am EST, the National Hurricane Center has confirmed that Irma’s eye has engulfed Lower Florida Keys.

The NHC said, "A National Ocean Service station in Key West just measured sustained winds of 71mph (113 km/h) with a gust to 90mph (144 km/h).

"The Key West Weather Service Forecast Office recently reported a gust to 91mph (146 km/h)."

Big Pine Key, Summerland Key and Cudjoe Key have been completely swallowed up.

8:50 am EST: Hurricane Irma claims first victim in Florida
At least one person has been killed after Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida earlier today.

A man in Monroe County on the southern coast, was killed after he lost control of a truck he was driving, according to Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

8:47 am EST: Governor Scott, "I ask everybody to pray for us."
Florida Governor Rick Scott has encouraged his fellow Americans to pray for those caught in the cataclysmic path of Hurricane Irma.

"The first thing I ask everybody to do is pray for us," Mr. Scott told ABC News.

The Governor asked for donations and volunteers to help out in the aid process.

"Our first responders will do everything they can to take care of you," he said. "But in the middle of the storm, it'll be hard. But I can tell you, we are going to try our best to make sure that we take care of everyone."

8:10 am EST: Hurricane Irma's landfall causes chaos across coastline
NBC-6 Meteorologist John morales also tweeted, "American landfall in the Lower Florida Keys imminent with Irma just 10 miles from Summerland Key at 8 AM."

Considerable parts of Miami Beach are now reportedly out of power, and city officials have confirmed that emergency services are no longer able to respond to calls.

Ear-popping pressure drops are now taking place over the region as Irma moves into the Lower Keys.

The National Weather Service in Key West is picking up a central pressure of 955.79 mbar.

8 am EST: Eye of the storm now 20 miles away from Key West
Hurricane Irma continues to approach the battered Key West, with the eye of the cyclone edging closer to the coast.

As the hurricane gets closer to the US, the Government of Cuba has discontinued its Hurricane Warning for the Cuban provinces of Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, and Villa Clara.

On the forecast track, the NHS said, "The eye of Irma should move over the Lower Florida Keys shortly, and then move near or over the west coast of the Florida Peninsula later today through tonight. Irma should then move inland over northern Florida and southwestern Georgia Monday afternoon."

7:46 am EST: Tornado Warning issued across Florida
The affected areas include Jupiter, Tequesta and Juno Beach until 8 am EST, as well as Hialeah, Pembroke Pines and Hollywood.

The Miami office of the National Weather Service is now picking up sustained winds across the Miami metropolitan area of around 45mph, with gusts between 60 and 75mph.

Key West is meanwhile experiencing stronger winds with frequent gusts of 80 to 90mph.

Extreme winds and major hurricanes are now expected to batter the Gulf Coast, with tropical winds and hurricane force gusts across he East Coast.

7:41 am EST: Half-a-million Americans stranded without power
As of 7 am, over 565,000 Floridians have been left without access to power – and the worst part of the storm is still approaching Key West.

7:35 am EST: Collier County emergency service no longer responsive
Collier County has declared a civil emergency, and Police, Fire Rescue and EMS services will no longer respond to emergency calls until tropical wind speeds subside.

Residents are in the meantime advised to seek shelter and to stay off of roads.

The Collier County Information Hotline remains active 24-hours a day. Residents with questions may call the Hotline at 239-252-8444 (within Collier County residents may dial 311).

SUNDAY

7:10 am EST: Hurricane Irma makes landfall over Florida Keys
Hurricane Irma has just reached the Lower Florida Keys, and the eye of the storm is now only 15 miles away from Key West.

Maximum sustained winds are recorded at 130 mph (215 km/h).

5 am EST: Eye of Irma to move across Lower Florida Keys
At 5 am EST, the eye of the Hurricane Irma was spotted just 40 miles (65 km) south-southeast of Key West and 140 miles (225 km) south of Naples.

The hurricane is pushing forward at a speed of 8 mph (13 km/h) and has reached maximum sustained winds of 130mph (215 km/h).

4:22am EST: Hurricane winds reach Florida Keys
A National Ocean Service station located on Molasses Reef has begun to pick up sustained winds of up to 66 mph (105 km/h). An individual gust has been measured at 85mph (137 km/h).

Hurricane Irma was last spotted about 55 miles (90 km) south-southeast of Key West, Florida.

Key West International Airport is meanwhile picking up sustained wind speed of 43 mph (69 km/h) with a 73 mph (117 km/h) gust.

2:00 am Hurricane Irma Update – NOAA
Hurricane Irma has been upgraded to a category 4 storm.

The NHC said, "Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 130 mph (210 km/h) with higher gusts. Irma is now a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

"Irma is forecast to re-strengthen a little more while it moves through the Straits of Florida and remain a powerful hurricane as it approaches the Florida Keys and the west coast of Florida."

The deadly weather phenomenon was expected to pick up speed as it travels from Cuba to Florida.

SATURDAY

11:00 pm Hurricane Irma Update – NOAA
A life threatening storm surge is expected in Florida despite the colossal weather phenomenon “taking its time” moving away from Cuba.

In a statement the National Hurricane Center warned regularly dry areas in the Florida Keys and the state’s west coast would be flooded by the surge as Irma edges closer to the continental US.

The NHC added, "The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and large breaking waves will raise water levels above normal tide levels."

9:00 pm Hurricane Irma Update – NOAA

The high-speed wind gusts, which struck the Florida Keys, were confirmed by National Hurricane Center.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 125 miles per hour (205 kilometres per hour), the center said.

8:00 Hurricane Irma Update – NOAA

The NHC said in its 8 pm EST update, "A few tornadoes are possible this evening and tonight over south Florida, expanding northward into central Florida on Sunday."

It comes ahead of the storm's landfall, which is expected in the early hours of the morning.

6:00 pm Hurricane Irma Update - NOAA
Winds are picking on the mainland US, with a National Ocean Service station in Molasses Reef, Florida, reporting sustained winds of 54 mph (87 kmh) with a gust to 62 mph (100 kmh).

Key West, which is expected to bear the brunt of the first of the storm reported sustained winds of 41 mph (67 km/h) with a gust to 68 mph (109 km/h).

5:37 pm Hurricane Irma Update - NOAA
Hurricane Irma’s powerful threat to Florida has only just begun after the NOAA announced the first steps of Irma’s path in the US state.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced there is "imminent danger of life-threatening storm surge flooding in portions of central and southern Florida, including the keys."

Irma is also expected to bring dangerous wind impacts to much of Florida, along with portions of Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.

The NHC said Irm will produce heavy rainfall over much of Florida and Georgia.

The devastating forecast comes after Hurricane Irma uprooted trees and tore off roofs in Cuba on Saturday with 125mph (200-km per hour) winds that damaged hotels in the island's best-known beach resorts and forced evacuations as far along the coast as low-lying areas of the capital Havana.

Power was out and cellphone service was spotty in many regions as Irma neared the end of a 200-mile (320-km) trek westwards along the top of the island. It was forecast to head north toward Florida in the evening.

5:23 pm EST: Hurricane Irma - NOAA
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) have re-iterated Floridians Irma will bring life-threatening wind and storm surge to the Florida Keys and south-western Florida as an extremely dangerous major hurricane tonight through Saturday.

Irma's destructive path will cause "life-threatening wind impacts to much of Florida regardless of the exact track of the center."

The NHC said, "The threat of catastrophic storm surge flooding is highest along the southwest coast of Florida, where 10 to 15 feet of inundation above ground level is expected."

The NHC added, "Irma is expected to produce very heavy rain and inland flooding. Total rain accumulations of 10 to 20 inches, with isolated amounts of between 20 and 25 inches, are expected over the Florida Keys, the Florida peninsula, and southeast Georgia from Saturday through Monday."

5:00 pm EST: Hurricane Irma Update - NOAA
Hurricane Irma is causing weather in Florida to "deteriorate" as it approaches the US state, according to the latest National Hurricane Center (NHC) warning.

The NHC said, "major hurricane force winds" are expected at daybreak, with new hurricane and storm surge warnings issued.

The NHC said, "The eye of Irma is beginning to move slowly away from the coast of Cuba while weather is deteriorating in South Florida."

4:55 pm EST: Hurricane Irma Path Update
Hurricane Irma’s winds are picking up dramatically in South Florida now, as Irma begins its path to the north and west.

Wind gusts as fast as 70mph have started to plough into the east coast state, with numbers expected to rise through to Sunday morning.

4:45 pm EST: Hurricane Irma Path Update
Hurricane Irma's core will continue to skim across the northern coast of Cuba, but Irma’s eye is expected to strike part of the Florida Keys on Sunday morning before driving up the state’s southwestern coast in the afternoon.

Irma is expected to make landfall in Florida as an extremely dangerous hurricane, once it re-strengthens after devastating Cuba.

The storm is still a category three, with sustained winds of 125mph, its eye moving at about 9mph.

4:29 pm EST: British police officers and almost 500 troops to be deployed as part of the country’s efforts to step up support to the Caribbean islands left devastated by Hurricane Irma.
The Government announced a $32 million aid package and pledged to double any public donations to the British Red Cross appeal for victims of Hurricane Irma, up to $3 million.

4:05 pm EST: The National Hurricane Center (NHC) have confirmed Hurricane Irma’s track is moving towards Florida, leaving Cuba after hours of destruction.
The NHC, in a 4:00 pm EST Irma update, stated that winds are beginning to increase in Florida keys and the Southern Florida Peninsula.

Irma's path is about 125 miles of south east of Key West.

The storm is still a category 3, with sustained winds of 125mph, its eye moving at about 9mph.

Molasses Reef recently reported sustained winds of 49 mph (79 km/h) with a gust to 56 mph (90 km/h).

Marathon recently reported sustained winds of 41 mph (66 km/h) with a gust to 55 mph (89 km/h).

4:00 pm EST: As Hurricane Irma looms between the ocean gap of Cuba and Florida, America’s emergency management chief warns Floridians who stay in the Florida Keys. "You’re on your own."
The category 3 hurricane’s path is set to batter West Keys in the early hours of Sunday, with winds of more than 50mph are expected to pummel the region from about 5pm, the National Hurricane Center confirmed.

The chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Brock Long warned that federal first responders won’t immediately be able to help those in the areas hardest hit.

He said, "You're on your own until we can actually get in there, and it's safe for our teams to support local and state efforts. The message has been clear - the Keys are going to be impacted, there is no safe area within the Keys, and you put your life in your own hands by not evacuating."

3:50 pm EST: As Hurricane Irma crawls along the north coast of Cuba, authorities in Florida made a final push to drive more than six million people out of danger zones, off the streets and into shelters on on to high ground.
Forty-two shelters were open across the Miami area, with 11 already full as more than 25,000 people hunkered down, temporary refugees from the storm.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed tropical storm-force winds of more than 50mph were expected to pummel the region from about 5 pm EST on Saturday.

3:35 pm EST: US President Donald Trump and his cabinet are receiving regular updates on Hurricanes Irma and Jose as they meet at the Camp David Presidential retreat.
The White House adds that Mr Trump and first lady Melania Trump are keeping everyone who has been affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in their thoughts and prayers. They are also urging the public to closely follow safety advice from local authorities.

3:05 pm EST: Hurricane Irma has aided a prison break-in in which more than 100 inmates escaped a jail in the British Virgin Islands.
The group, which could number as high as 120, fled the prison when it was partly destroyed by the then-Category 5 storm.

It is unknown whether the prisoners fled for their own safety as the hurricane caused devastation across the islands.

3:00 pm EST: Everything we know so far

• Hurricane Irma batters Cuba and its path heads towards Florida Keys
• At least 25 dead
• Hurricane to re-strengthen as it moves away from Cuba, with winds to hit more than 110mph by the time it reaches Florida Keys - the National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed
• Evacuation one around Fort Myers in western Florida expanded
• Irma expected to arrive near Key West at 8am on Sunday
• Foreign Office hotline for people affected: 020 7008 0000

2:45 pm EST: Irma is expected to regain strength as it moves away from Cuba, with winds predicted to hit more than 110mph by the time it reaches the Florida Keys early Sunday.
National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) latest projections show the storm moving at about 9mph, with winds of 125mph still over Cuba’s northern shore.

Irma's current projected course shows the eye making landfall three times on Florida: first over the Lower Keys, where meteorologists expect devastating storm surges; then over Cape Coral or Fort Myers, in south-west Florida; and finally it is expected to come within range of Tampa Bay, the state’s third most populous city.

2:12 pm EST: The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has announced the current threat to life and property in Key West and Big pine is "extreme."
The 2 pm update urged people to hide from the wind.

"Failure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury, loss of life, or immense human suffering."

Latest local forecast predict a peak wind speed of 105-125mph with gusts up to 145mph - the equivalent of a category 3 hurricane.

The potential impacts from the main wind event are still unfolding

2:07 pm EST: Miami Beach has ordered all citizens need to be off the streets by 8pm ahead of Hurricane Irma.

2:02 pm EST: Hurricane Irma is "lingering" over Cuba as it continues to edge closer to South Florida and the Keys, according to the latest update from the NOAA National Hurricane Center (NHC).
NHC's update said Hurricane Irma is now located around 65 miles (100km) from Varadero Cuba and around 145miles (235km) south east of key west Florida.

1:56 pm EST: Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel Island and Port Charlotte could all be under as much as nine feet of water.

1:53 pm EST: Rick Scott, Florida’s 45th Governor, orders emergency contracts to help motorists during evacuations along the interstate-10 corridor.
Announcing on Twitter, he also approved an emergency contract for buses and resources to support evacuation services on the same interstate.

1:50 pm EAT: Two people in Mexico died Saturday in a mudslide related to Hurricane Katia, according to Veracruz governor Miguel Angel Yunes.
The mudslide occurred in the city of Xalapa in the Mexican coastal state of Veracruz.

Rivers in the mountainous region are flooding from the remnants of the hurricane.

11:30 pm EST: Florida asks another 700,000 to leave ahead of Hurricane Irma; nearly 7 million total urged to evacuate multiple states.
Roughly one-third of the state’s population have fled the storm.

1:13 pm EST: Florida Governor Rick Scott repeated his warnings to take shelter, saying Hurricane Irma is the most "catastrophic storm the state has ever seen."

1:01pm EST: More "reasonable worst case scenario" forecasts show potential storm surge flooding in Naples and Marco Island, with both areas at risk of being nine feet or more underwater.
Hurricane Irma, a category 3 hurricane as of 11:00 am EST, is forecast to re-strengthen while heading for South Florida and the Keys.

12:35 pm EST: A tornado warning was issued for a collision with Everglades City with it due to hit any minute now. The National Weather Service's Miami branch has tweeted, "Possible TORNADO MOVING TOWARD EVERGLADES CITY AROUND 12:28PM - TAKE COVER NOW!"

12:30 pm EST: A "reasonable worst case scenario" forecast shows HALF of Key West underwater due to storm surge, according to a Weather Channel meteorologist.
Hurricane Irma, a category 3 hurricane as of 11:00 am EST, is forecast to re-strengthen while heading for South Florida and the Keys.

Key West, a U.S island city with a population of at least 25,000 people, is predicted to feel the brunt of Irma by Sunday morning.

Officials and forecasters have warned of the dangers of "life-threatening" storm surge associated with the storm.

11:56 am: EST: Florida has asked another 700,000 to leave Florida ahead of Hurricane Irma, bringing the total to 7 million people, more than 25 percent of the state's population, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

11:34 am: EST: According to the NHC, the storm will arrive in the Keys, an archipelago off the peninsula's southern tip, on Sunday morning.

11 am EST: The 11 am EST update, from the NHC, said Hurricane Irma is now located around 90 miles (145km) from Varadero Cuba and around 175miles (285km) south east of key west Florida.
Irma is now a category 3 hurricane, but is expected to strengthen when it moves over the warm open water as it approaches Florida.

Hurricane and Storm Surge Watches have now been extended from Chassahowitzka to the Suwanee River to Ochlockonee River and from north of the Volusia/Brevard County line north to the Isle of Palms, South Carolina.

10:53 am EST: The Florida Keys are already suffering damage from the outer bands of Hurricane Irma as it makes it way to the west coast.. Officials say residents need to be evacuated by 12noon.

10:48 am EST: On Wall Street, the S&P 500 ended slightly lower as investors braced for potential damage and massive insurance claims from Irma. Many economists are predicting that third-quarter gross domestic product will take a hit due to the hurricanes.

10:14 am: EST: The United States has been hit by only three Category 5 storms since 1851, and Irma is far larger than the last one in 1992, Hurricane Andrew, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
President Donald Trump said in a videotaped statement that Irma was "a storm of absolutely historic destructive potential" and called on people to heed recommendations from government officials and law enforcement. In Palm Beach, Trump's waterfront Mar-a-Lago estate was ordered evacuated.

A shelter in southwest Miami filled to capacity just hours after it opened its doors, with many people there remembering the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the most destructive to hit the state.

Ann Samuels, 49, said, "I'm scared because it is bigger than Andrew. They say to not stress and not worry, but how can you not?"

10:01 am EST: The destruction along Cuba's north central coast was similar to that seen on other Caribbean islands over the last week as Irma smashed the Ciego de Avila province around midnight.
State media said it was the first time the eye of a Category 5 storm had made landfall since 1932. In the days before Irma struck, the island's Communist government evacuated tens of thousands of foreign tourists from resorts on the northern coast.

In Ciego de Avila province, Irma was forecast to generate waves of up to 7 metre (23 feet), with flooding expected as far west as the capital Havana, authorities said on Saturday.

Maybelis Viareal, 30, a receptionist at a hotel in the northern Cuban town of Remedios, said, "I am absolutely terrified. I have lived through tropical storms before but nothing like this."

9:35 am EST: Governor Rick Scott issued an impassioned plea to Flordians telling them to take the deadly hurricane seriously, saying, "Your house can be replaced, your possessions can be replaced, but you life cannot and your family cannot be replaced."

He told a press conference, "This is a deadly storm we have never seen anything like this before, it is bigger than our state. With a storm surge threat, which will reach 6 to 12 ft of impacts above ground level. This will cover your house .. you will not survive all this storm surge. This is a life threatening situation. if you have been ordered to evacuate, you need to go right now. If you’re in an evacuation zone, leave. You need to listen to local evacuation orders. This is going to go faster than you are, these winds are coming."

He added, "Once the storm starts, law enforcement cannot save you. Do not put your life or your family's life at risk. Protecting life is our absolutely top priority. Our goal is to protect every person in this state’s life. We are being very aggressive in our preparation. Your house can be replaced, your possessions, your life cannot and your family's life cannot be replaced. This is so important ... everyone in Florida needs to find a safe place to go. We are under a state of emergency."

Florida has seen 260 shelters opened across the state since the threat of the hurricane rose and 70 more are set to open. 50,000 Floridians have already taken shelter.

9:14 am EST: Florida will be plunged into darkness when Storm Irma takes hold, with energy companies warning power could be out for a week due to devastating damage.

9:35 am EST: Governor Rick Scott issued a terrifying warning telling Flordians to take the deadly hurricane seriously, saying: “Your house can be replaced, your possessions can be replaced, but you life cannot and your family cannot be replaced.
He told a press conference, "This is a deadly storm we have never seen anything like this before, it is bigger than our state. With a storm surge threat, which will reach 6 to 12 ft of impacts above ground level. This will cover your house .. you will not survive all this storm surge. This is a life threatening situation. if you have ordered to evacuate, you need to go right now. If you’re in an evacuation zone, leave. You need to listen to local evacuation orders. This is going to go faster than you are, these winds are coming. "

He added, "Once the storm starts, law enforcement cannot save you. Do not put your life or your family's life at risk. Protecting life is our abso top priority. Our goal is to protect every person in this state’s life. We are being very aggressive in our preparation. Your house can be replace,d your possession, you life cannot and your family cannot be replaced. This is so important everyone in Florida needs to find a safe place to go. We are under a state of emergency.

Florida has seen 260 shelters opened across the state since the threat of the hurricane rose and 70 more are set to open. 50,000 Floridians have already taken shelter.

9:14 am EST: Florida will be plunged into darkness when Storm Irma takes hold, with energy companies warning power could be out for a week due to devastating damage.

9:09 am EST: The threat of a tornado hitting the US has now risen due to the shift from east to west of the hurricane.
Michael Ventrice, Meteorological Scientist, said, "Although the track of #Irma has shifted west, isolated tornadoes are going to be a problem from #Miami up through #PalmBeach in rainbands."

9:06 am EST: Residents are being urged to sleep downstairs and sleep away from windows to avoid falling trees this evening.
Brian Shields, meteorologist, said, "Irma has a mind of its own."

He said tropical storm conditions will be on top of Florida by this afternoon, while hurricane conditions will hit at 10pm on Sunday and the first half of Monday will experience 50 to 60pmh winds. Rain will reach six to 12 inches.

8:59 am: EST: As Cuba continues to be battered by the astonishing hurricane, local radio station Cadena Agramonte say waves in the the north coast of Ciego de Ávila were reported between 5 and 7 metres in height.
Given the persistence of strong winds, it is predicted coastal floods will occur south of Camagüey, Ciego de Ávila and Sancti Spíritus.

8:29 am EST: The path of the ferocious storm is hitting the north coast of Cuba hard, and although the terrain of Cuba will weaken, the hurricane is expected to re-strengthen to category 5 as it heads towards Florida's west coast.
Hurricane and Storm Surge Watches have now been discontinued in the Bahamas and the Ragged Island, but the tracker predicts it will thrash the Florida Keys on Sunday morning.

8:06 am EST: Hurricane Irma is continuing to hit Cuba hard as it ferociously picks up speed on its way to Florida, where it will thrash the Keys on Sunday morning.
The latest 8am update from the NOAA National Hurricane Center (NHC) said it is now around 10 miles (15km) north west of Caibarien Cuba and around 225 miles (365km) south of Miami in Florida with hours to go until it Florida's west coast is next in the firing line.

SATURDAY

7:33 am EST: Hundreds of residents in Altamonte Springsare queuing in their cars to get sandbags in preparation for the storm to thrash Florida. Authorities have told residents in Alabama and Georgia they have time to prepare, but must take it seriously and act in time.
Hardware stores are closed to prepare, which is making it difficult for residents to get hold of sandbags and boards to protect their homes. One hardware store reported selling up to 20 to 30,000 boards to concerned citizens.

7:30 am EST: Florida residents are being urged to take shelter by 5pm as they continue with their preparations before rain and wind from Irma move in on Sunday.
Local forecasters said conditions are already deteriorating as rain and thunderstorms hit Florida.

6:47 am EST: The latest NOAA path update spaghetti models show a slight deviation in its path.
CBS Local forecasters in Miami offered an update on the latest spaghetti models, which shows Hurricane Irma travelling through the middle of Florida, which means Miami, Orlando and Jacksonville will feel the full force of the storm.

6:33 am EST: Shocking images have emerged of the trail of destruction in Cuba as the deadly storm smashed the coastline.
Power lines and palm trees were uprooted by the hurricane as sheets of rain lash the area rand huge waves crash over sea walls.

6:21 am EST: Hurricane Irma has "severely affected" the centre of Cuba with gusts up to 260 km/h hitting late on Friday night.
The hurricane, the first of such a force whose eye touches the island since 1932, "severely affected the provinces of Camagüey and Ciego de Avila", in the centre of the country, announced the Cuban meteorologist Elier Pila on state television.

6:08 am EST: The Institute of Meteorology of Cuba (IMC) said, "The eye of Hurricane Irma has landed in Romano Cay, north of the municipality of Esmeralda in the province of Camagüey around 9:00 pm Friday."

5:31 am EST: Irma was so devastating it broke Cuban meteorological equipment meant to be record wind speed.

5.00 am EST: The 5 am update from the NOAA National Hurricane Center said warnings for both hurricane and storm surges have been extended north up the Florida West coast, with citizens along the Anclote River to Chassahowitzka told to be on high alert.
It will then head northeast to hit the Florida east coast.

The update by the National Hurricane Center warned, "The Hurricane Warning is extended northward along the Florida East coast to the Flagler/Volusia County Line.

"A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued north of Fernandina Beach to Altamaha Sound, Georgia.

"Additional Watches and Warnings may be required for portions of the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina, as well as portions of the Florida Gulf Coast later today."

Storm surges have been described as "life threatening" for the next 36 hours with residents in coastal areas told to evacuate and protect property.

4:00 am EST: Hurricane Jose has now strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane and is following a similar path to Irma.
Jose is expected to reach the northeastern Caribbean on Saturday. Wind speeds will exceed 150mph.

2:00 am EST: The total death toll is currently 22.
Five of the 22 people reported to have died during Irma are said to have come from the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla.

FRIDAY

11:00 pm EST: Hurricane Irma once again a Category 5 storm
The 11 pm EST update from the NHC said Data from a Hurricane Hunter aircraft has revealed the maximum sustained winds of Irma have increased to nearly 160mph with higher gusts.

The reading means Irma is once again a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with officials extending hurricane warnings further north on the mainland US.

4:50 pm EST: Irma damage visible from space
The shocking damage wrought by Hurricane Irma across the Caribbean can be seen from space.

Previously green and luscious islands are now shown brown after the 100mph+ winds blew away all vegetation.

All that can now been seen in satellite imagery is the brown of the bare soil.

2 pm EST: Hurricane Irma continues towards Florida
Hurricane Irma was last located just 225 miles (365 km) east from Caibarien in Cuba, and 380 miles (610 km) southeast of Florida.

Irma is travelling at a speed of 14mph (22 km/h), and the cyclone's winds are now at 155mph (250 km/h).

The NHC said, "Irma is likely to make landfall in Florida as a dangerous major hurricane, and will bring life-threatening wind impacts to much of the state regardless of the exact track of the center.

"There is the danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation in southern Florida and the Florida Keys during the next 36 hours, where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect. In particular, the threat of significant storm surge flooding along the southwest coast of Florida has increased, and 6 to 12 feet of inundation above ground level is possible in this area."

12:55 pm EST: Florida continues to prepare for the storm
More than 250,000 people have been ordered to evacuate Palm Beach County.

Three people have died in the US Virgin Islands and nine other people were killed by the storm around the Caribbean.

11:28 am EST: Hurricane Irma is moving between the North coast of Hispaniola and The Turks and Caicos Islands
At 2 pm AST, it is moving Northwest at 16mph. It is on track to hit the east coast of Florida on Sunday.

Irma battered a string of northeast islands in the Caribbean.

Barbuda appeared to take the worst hit leaving at least 90 percent of the country’s homes damaged, according to officials.

The hurricane is still making its way towards Florida, and the state is busy making preparations for tourists and residents.

11 am EST Hurricane Irma winds up to 155mph
The latest update from the NHC said that Irma remains ‘an extremely dangerous’ category 4 hurricane with 155mph winds.

11 am EST: Hurricane Irma nears Cuba
The NHC said, "On the forecast track, the eye of Irma should move near the north coast of Cuba and the central Bahamas today and Saturday, and be near the Florida Keys and the southern Florida Peninsula Sunday morning."

11 am EST: Hurricane Irma just over 400 miles from Florida
Hurricane Irma was last located about 405 miles (655 km) southeast of Miami, Florida. The storm is moving in a west-northwesterly direction at 14mph.

11 am EST: Hurricane Irma threatens Bahamas
The NHC said, "Irma is an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane and will continue to bring life-threatening wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to the Bahamas through Saturday. Hurricane conditions will also spread over portions of the north coast of Cuba, especially over the adjacent Cuban Keys through Saturday."

11 am EST: Hurricane Irma likely to make landfall in Florida
The NHC said, "Irma is likely to make landfall in southern Florida as a dangerous major hurricane, and will bring life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts to much of the state regardless of the exact track of the center."

Hurricane Warning: Southern Florida, the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Florida Bay. Hurricane Watches: Northward into central Florida.

11 am EST: Storm surge flooding could push water up 12 feet
Up to 12 feet of inundation above ground level is possible along the southwest coast of Florida due to storm surge flooding.

The NHC said, "This is a life-threatening situation. Irma is expected to produce very heavy rain and inland flooding. Total rain accumulations of 4 to 12 inches, with isolated amounts of 20 inches are expected over the Florida peninsula Saturday through Monday. The highest amounts are expected over the eastern Florida peninsula and upper Florida Keys."

11 am EST: NHC update on threat to USA
The NHC said, "Irma will likely bring periods of heavy rain to much of Georgia, South Carolina, and western North Carolina early next week, including some mountainous areas which are more prone to flash flooding. All areas seeing heavy rainfall from Irma will experience a risk of flooding and flash flooding."

11 am EST: Latest warning update
Storm Surge Warning extended from Jupiter Inlet northward to Sebastian Inlet and from Bonita Beach northward to Venice.

Storm Surge Watch issued from north of Sebastian Inlet to Ponce Inlet.

Hurricane Watch has been extended northward along the east coast of Florida to the Flagler/Volusia County Line, and along the west coast of Florida to Anclote River.

10:45 am EST: Hurricane Jose has been upgrade to category 4

10:43 am EST: Irma winds back up to 165mph
WTTG FOX 5 Meteorologist Mike Thomas tweeted, "Eating my own words here as they've just reported 165mph winds in Irma. So now... Could be a category 5 at 11am."

9:50 am EST: Fuel shortage as Florida residents flee Hurricane Irma
Florida governor Rick Scott has warned of a fuel shortage as residents leave evacuation zones in south Florida.

He told those in evacuation zones, "You must leave... We cannot save you in the middle of the storm."

8:40 am EST: 'Entirety of South Florida will feel hurricane winds'
Meteorologist Michael Ventrice tweeted, "If the westward shift in the track of Major Hurricane #Irma is right, the entirety of South Florida will feel Hurricane force winds."

8:30 am EST: FEMA - Hurricane Irma to 'devastate' the US
Brock Long, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said, "Hurricane Irma continues to be a threat that is going to devastate the United States in either Florida or some of the Southeastern states."

8:25 am EST: Eye of Hurricane Irma passes south of Acklins Island in the Bahamas
The Met Office tweeted, "The eye of Hurricane Irma now passing to the south of Acklins Island in the Bahamas with winds near 150mph.

8 am EST: Core of Hurricane Irma to hit Florida on Sunday morning
The latest storm track map shows Irma is set to hit Florida on Sunday morning before tracking up towards Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina.

The cone, which contains the probable path of the eye of the storm, remains wide due to the ongoing uncertainty over where Irma will hit.

The NHC said, "On the forecast track, the eye of Irma should move near the north coast of Cuba and the central Bahamas today and Saturday, and be near the Florida Keys and the southern Florida Peninsula Sunday morning."

8 am EST: Hurricane Irma 440 miles from Miami
The NHC said that Irma remains 'an extremely dangerous' category 4 hurricane with 155mph winds.

Hurricane Irma was last located about 80 miles (125 km northeast of Cabo Lucretia, Cuba, and about 440 miles (720 km) southeast of Miami, Florida.

The storm is moving in a west-northwesterly direction at 16mph.

8 am EST: NHC update on the threat to the Caribbean
The NHC said, "Irma is an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane and will continue to bring life-threatening wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas through Saturday."

"Heavy rainfall is still possible across portions of Hispaniola through today. Hurricane conditions will also spread over portions of the north coast of Cuba, especially over the adjacent Cuban Keys through Saturday."

8 am EST: NHC update on threat to Florida and the USA
The NHC said, "Severe hurricane conditions are expected over portions of the Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys beginning Saturday night.

"Irma is likely to make landfall in southern Florida as a dangerous major hurricane, and bring life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts to much of the state.

Hurricane Warning: Southern Florida, the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Florida Bay. Hurricane Watches: Northward into central Florida.

Storm Surge Warning: Southern Florida and the Florida Keys. Hurricane and Tropical Storm Warnings for Haiti have been discontinued.

7:30 am EST: More Florida evacuations expected
Here are the evacuations in place, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

• Miami Dade: Mandatory evacuations for Zone A, the Barrier Islands of Zone B and all mobile homes.
• Broward County: Voluntary evacuations of mobile homes and low-lying areas.
• Collier County: Voluntary evacuations of Marco Island.
• Monroe County: Mandatory evacuations

The Division said:, "Additional evacuations are expected throughout the state. All Floridians should pay close attention to local alerts and follow the directions of local officials."

Florida governor Rick Scott yesterday warned, "Although current models show Hurricane Irma going along FL’s East Coast, the West Coast will still have hurricane conditions."

7:20 am EST: Hurricane Jose to impact St Martin and St Barts
French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said there are at least nine dead, seven missing and 112 injured after Irma hit St Martin and St Barts.

He said, "Hurricane José will impact St Martin and St Barts, but not Guadeloupe. It will disturb the operations undertaken following the passage of Irma."

7:15 am EST: Irma has power to 'completely destroy' mobile homes
Dr. Rick Knabb‏, hurricane expert at the Weather Channel, tweeted, "If officials tell you to evacuate your mobile home, that’s to save your life! A major hurricane can completely destroy mobile homes. Irma is expected to be wider than Andrew and Charley when it affects Florida, so it could cause greater storm surges over larger areas."

6:44 am EST: Hurricane Irma begins to affect Cuba
Tidal waves up to five metres above sea level are hitting the north coast of the eastern tip of Cuba, according to the Cuban Institute of Meteorology.

High waves are affecting the north coast Guantanamo and are forecast to extend to Holguín and Las Tunas this morning.

6:26 am EST: Storm surge could reach 10ft over Florida Keys
Storm surge could push water up to 10 ft above ground in a warning zone stretching from Jupiter Inlet to Bonita Beach, including Florida Keys.

The NHC said, "The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline."

6:10 am EST: Evacuate Florida's coastal surge zones NOW
Meteorologist Jeff Lindner, who dealt with flooding with Houston’s Harris County tweeted, "Residents in FL should have preps well under way. Evacuate coastal surge zones NOW!"

5:45 am EST: Hurricane Irma to slam into Florida
WTTG FOX 5 Meteorologist Mike Thomas tweeted, "Models finally in agreement on Irma slamming into Florida Sunday. Several models show it as a category 5. Damage may be catastrophic."

"After slamming Turks and Caicos, Irma weakens to a category 4 with 155mph winds, however restrengthening likely as she returns to open water."

5 am EST: Hurricane Irma is now category 4
The NHC update said that Irma remains 'an extremely dangerous' despite being downgraded to category 4.

Hurricane Irma's winds have dropped to 155mph, just below the 157mph threshold for a category 5 hurricane.

The Met Office tweeted, "Irma is now classified as category 4, but still a dangerous hurricane with winds of near 155mph surrounding the eye."

5 am EST: Hurricane Irma less than 500 miles from Miami
Hurricane Irma was last located about 55 miles north of Great Inagua Island, and about 495 miles southeast of Miami, Florida.

The storm is moving in a west-northwesterly direction at 16mph.

5 am EST: NHC update on the threat to the Caribbean
The NHC said, "Irma is an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane and will continue to bring life-threatening wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas through Saturday.

"Heavy rainfall is still possible across portions of Hispaniola through today.

"Hurricane conditions will also spread over portions of the north coast of Cuba, especially over the adjacent Cuban Keys through Saturday."

5 am EST: Hurricane Irma likely to make landfall in Florida
The NHC said, "Severe hurricane conditions are expected over portions of the Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys beginning Saturday night.

"Irma is likely made landfall in southern Florida as a dangerous major hurricane, and bring life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts to much of the state."

Hurricane Warning: Florida, the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Florida Bay. Hurricane Watches: northward into central Florida.

5 am EST: Life-threatening inundation threatens Florida
"Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours."

Storm Surge Warning: Southern Florida and the Florida Keys.

5 am EST: NHC update on the threat to Georgia, South and North Carolina
The NHC said, "There is a chance of direct impacts in portions of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, but it is too early to specify the magnitude and location of these impacts."

4:18 am EST: RAF planes to join the relief effort in the Caribbean

4:10 am EST: Time running out before Irma hits Florida
The latest storm path map shows Hurricane Irma hitting Florida on Saturday night, possibly making landfall as a category 4 hurricane.

Strong winds will bring dangerous storm surges and life-threatening conditions. Irma then looks set to continue up to Georgia, South Carolina or Tennessee.

4:05 am EST: Rush to leave Miami before airport closes

4 am EST: Irma moves away from Turks and Caicos Islands
The latest NHC update which puts Irma on track away from the Turks and Caicos Islands and towards the Bahamas and Cuba.

2 am EST: Hurricane Irma just 535 miles from Miami
Hurricane Irma was located about 20 miles north of Great Inagua Island, and about 535 miles east-southeast of Miami, Florida.

The storm was moving in a west-northwesterly direction at 16mph with maximum sustained winds of 160mph.

12:16 am EST: Hurricane Warning issued for South Florida
Hurricane and Storm Surge Warnings issued for all of south Florida and the Florida Keys.

12:36 am EST: Little Inagua enters the eye of Hurricane Irma
NHC scientist Eric Blake tweeted, "Another island entering the eye tonight. That's Little Inagua.

"Uninhabited but home to many rare birds and turtles."

THURSDAY

11:53 pm EST: Donald Trump, 'We will confront any challenge'
Donald Trump tweeted, "We will confront ANY challenge, no matter how strong the winds or high the water. I’m proud to stand with Presidents for OneAmericaAppeal.

He also encouraged everyone to heed the advice and "orders of local and state officials."

11:50 pm EST: Florida Governor: 'We can't rebuild families'
Florida governor Rick Scott said: "We can rebuild our homes, we can get our possessions again, we can't rebuild our families."

11:26 pm EST: Irma causes 'biggest evacuation in history'
The Category 5 Hurricane Irma has caused the "biggest evacuation in history" according to a spokesman for Miami-Dade Mayor Gimenez.

Miami-Dade has expanded its mandatory evacuations orders to Zone C, forcing over 650,000 to leave Florida in a "traffic nightmare."

10:36 pm EST: Shooting at Miami Airport
Police shot a man who was reportedly carrying a gun at Miami International Airport, a senior law enforcement official in Florida confirmed.

The airport tweeted, "Security incident involving a single suspect and MiamiDadePD has occurred at MIA. Situation under control. Terminal J is temporarily closed."

8:57 pm EST: Further evacuation orders for Florida
Florida Governor Scott has ordered the evacuation of about 40,000 people near Lake Okeechobee due to the risk of Irma pushing water over the dike.

The ageing Herbert Hoover dike almost completely encompasses the lake.

8:20 pm EST: Hurricane Irma heading to Miami
Nearly the entire state of Florida has an 80 per cent chance to see at least Tropical Storm Force winds, meteorological scientist Michael Ventrice claimed.

7:50 pm EST: Hurricane Irma kills four people in the US Virgin Islands
Hurricane Irma killed four people in the US Virgin Islands, a Government spokesman said.

The storm caused widespread damage to infrastructure, including to a major hospital.

Spokesman Lonnie Soury said, "We are not sanguine that there aren't more (dead)."

6:44 pm EST: Airlines rushing to evacuate customers
Airlines are racing against the clock to clear as many customers as possible from the likely Florida path of Hurricane Irma.

Despite added service, flights out of the area remained extremely limited. Carriers plan to mostly wind down south Florida operations by Friday evening.

5:55 pm EST: Florida continues to prepare for the storm
More than 250,000 people have been ordered to evacuate Palm Beach County.

Three people have died in the US Virgin Islands and nine other people were killed by the storm around the Caribbean.

5:50 pm EST: Irma is on course to batter Miami after it shifts west
Tom Terry, a meteorologist for WFTV predicts that Irma will batter Miami directly.

He tweeted, "5 pm update: #IRMA Track shifts west. Possible landfall across Southern Miami-Dade, traveling over warm swamps North."

5:40 pm: EST: Hurricane Jose strengthens
On the heels of Irma, hurricane Jose strengthened to a category 3 hurricane with winds speeds of 120mph, sparking concern.

4:27 pm EST: Irma battered a string of northeast islands in the Caribbean
Irma left devastation in her wake after she barreled through the Caribbean.

Barbuda appeared to take the worst hit leaving at least 90 per cent of the country’s homes damaged, according to officials.

The hurricane is still making its way towards Florida, as of 3pm on Thursday September 7, and the state is busy making preparations for tourists and residents.

But one person who is not taking any chances with the storm is President Donald Trump.

His Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach has been boarded up ahead of Hurricane Irma's arrival.

3:15 pm EST: Hurricane Jose reaches category 2 cyclone levels
Hurricane Jose has breached the category 2 threshold as it speeds towards the devastated Leeward Islands.

The cyclone is getting closer to the Lesser Antilles, and is now only 660 miles (1,060 km) away.

Jose is travelling at a speed of 18mph (30 km/h).

The NHC said, "Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 105mph (165 km/h) with higher gusts. "Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Jose is expected to become a major hurricane on Friday."

3:15 pm EST: Turks and Caicos expect devastating weather
Forecaster Eric Fisher tweeted, "Irma remains on track to make a direct hit on the Turks & Caicos tonight. Storm surge 15-20', destructive winds, torrential rain."

Meteorologist Philip Klotzbach meanwhile reminded that the only category 5 hurricane on record to reach within 50 nautical miles of the Turks and Caicos, was the Cuba-Brownsville Hurricane of 1993.

3pm EST: Turks and Caicos Islands brace for Hurricane Irma impact
The 3 pm update from the NHC, said that the eye of the cyclone is heading in westward direction with the hurricane preparing to slam into the Turks and Caicos islands this afternoon.

Hurricane Irma is currently located just 65 miles (105 km) from Puerto Planta in the Dominican Republic and 70 miles (115 km) southeast of Grand Turk Island.

Irma is moving in a west direction at a speed of 16mph (26 km/h).

The NHC said, "On the forecast track, the eye of Irma should continue to move between Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos this afternoon.

"The hurricane will then move across the southeastern Bahamas by this evening, and then be near the central Bahamas by Friday."

Irma is a "potentially catastrophic" weather front that could wreak havoc across parts of Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas.

A Storm Surge Watch has been issued for the Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach, and the coastal Florida Keys.

A Hurricane Warning is also in effect for the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti, Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le Mole St. Nicholas, Southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Central Bahamas and Northwestern Bahamas.

1:30 pm EST: Satellites could lose track of hurricanes thanks to solar flares
The sun has released two powerful solar flares that could disrupt satellite tracking of the three hurricanes over the Atlantic Ocean, NASA has warned.

The space agency said in a statement, "Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however — when intense enough — they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel."

However, NOAA physicist Terry Onsager, dispelled fears about the solar flares.

"The satellites are designed very specifically to take into account these kinds of events,” he said.

1:25 pm EST: Forecasters baffled by Atlantic Hurricanes
The presence of three major hurricanes over the Atlantic Ocean has left many forecasters stunned.

Hurricane expert Eric Blake tweeted, "Three hurricanes threatening land simultaneously in the W Atlantic Basin. Never seen anything like this in the modern record."

Forecaster Michael Ventricle also tweeted, "Back to back Major Hurricane landfalls across the northern Leewards in just 1 week of time. You have got to be kidding me."

WDSU News meteorologist Margaret Orr also tweeted, "Three hurricanes in Atlantic Basin. Jose expected to become major hurricane Friday. We are in peak hurricane season!"

12 pm EST: Hurricane and Storm Surge Watches for Florida
The NHC said Hurricane and Storm Surge Watches are now in effect parts of South Florida and Florida Keys.

The latest storm track map shows Irma is set to hit Florida on Sunday before tracking up the East Coast towards Georgia and South Carolina.

The cone, which contains the probable path of the eye of the storm, has shifted to the east, raising hopes that Irma might change path and stay offshore.

12 pm EST: NHC update on the threat to Georgia and Carolinas
The NHC said, "The chance of direct impacts is increasing in portions of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, but it is too early to specify the magnitude and location of the impacts."

12 pm EST: NHC update on the forecast track
The NHC said, "On the forecast track, the eye of Irma should continue to move just north of the coast of Hispaniola today, be near the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas by this evening, and then be near the central Bahamas by Friday."

12 pm EST: NHC update on the latest location
Hurricane Irma was last located just 75 miles (125 km) from Puerto Planta in the Dominican Republic and 120 miles (190 km) southeast of Grand Turk Island.

12 pm EST: NHC update on the latest wind speed
Hurricane Irma winds are now 175mph (280 km/h).

12 pm EST: NHC update on the threat to the Caribbean
The NHC said, "Irma is a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane and will bring life-threatening wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to the northern coast of Hispaniola today, and the Turks and Caicos tonight, the Bahamas tonight through Saturday.

"A Hurricane Watches is in effect for much of Cuba. Irma is likely to bring dangerous wind, storm surge, and rainfall to portions of these areas on Friday and Saturday."

12 pm EST: NHC update on the threat to Florida
The NHC said, "The threat of direct hurricane impacts in Florida over the weekend and early next week continues to increase. A hurricane watch has been issued for south Florida, the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Florida Bay.

"This watch will likely be expanded northward later today. Residents in these areas should heed any advice given by local officials."

"A storm surge watch has also been issued for portions of south Florida and the Florida Keys. This means there is the possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline during the next 48 hours in these areas."

12 pm EST: NHC update on the latest warnings
Storm Surge Watch issued for the Florida peninsula from Jupiter Inlet southward and around the peninsula to Bonita Beach, including the Florida Keys.

Hurricane Watch issued for the Florida peninsula from Jupiter Inlet southward and around the peninsula to Bonita Beach, including the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Florida Bay.

Cuba has extended the Tropical Storm Warning to Villa Clara province.

Hurricane Warnings: Northwestern Bahamas, Southeastern Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Central Bahamas, Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti and Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le Mole St. Nicholas.

Hurricane Watches: Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo province, Northwestern Bahamas

Tropical Storm Warnings: Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engano westward to the southern border with Haiti, Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince, Cuba provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas

11:28 am EST: 'Sobering' amount of land in path of Hurricane Irma
CBS Boston chief meteorologist Eric Fisher tweeted, "The shear amount of land/population still ahead of #Irma is sobering. Turks & Caicos, Bahamas, Florida, Georgia, both Carolinas."

11:15 am EST: West Coast of Florida must not 'let guard down'
The NWS Tampa Bay tweeted, "The forecast moves the center of Irma up the Florida East Coast. Can I now let my guard down on the FL west coast? Absolutely Not."

11 am EST: More Florida evacuations expected
Florida governor Rick Scott warned: “We can expect additional evacuations as this storm continues to near our state.

"Although current models show Hurricane Irma going along FL's East Coast, the West Coast will still have hurricane conditions."

Here are the evacuations in place, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

• Broward County: Voluntary evacuation of mobile homes and low-lying areas.
• Collier County: Voluntary evacuations of Marco Island.
• Miami Dade: Mandatory evacuations for zones A and B.
• Monroe County: Mandatory evacuations.

10:15 am EST: Miami prepares for flooding
Meteorologist Michael Ventricle tweeted, "Our Experimental Deep Thunder indicating risk for 15+ inches of rainfall in Miami from Irma track. We all know city floods with 1" or less."

Mr. Ventrice tweeted a map which showed the risk of hurricane force winds stretching from Key Largo through to Lake Okeechobee into Vero Beach in Florida.

9:35 am EST: Powerful winds to engulf Miami
Wind speed predictions for Miami are looking increasingly worrying with Sunday's forecast suggesting terrifying winds of up to 150mph.

Meteorologist Richard Hoffman tweeted, "Forecast Grid Data Miami Irma this would be very bad – Gusts near 150mph, sustained near 100mph on Sunday – I hope it is wrong."

9 am EST: Eye of Hurricane Irma heads for Turk and Caicos Islands
Intermediate update, from the NHC, said the eye of category 5 hurricane is now moving off the coast of Dominican Republic and Haiti.

9 am EST: Hurricane Irma winds rage at 180mph
Hurricane Irma winds are still 180mph (285 km/h). The earliest reasonable arrival time of tropical-storm-force winds in Florida Keys is early morning hours Saturday.

9 am EST: Hurricane Irma set to reach the Bahamas this evening
The NHC said," On the forecast track, the center should should continue to move just north of the coast of Hispaniola today, be near the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas by this evening, and then be near the Central Bahamas by Friday."

9 am EST: Hurricane Irma just 165 miles from Grand Turk Island
Hurricane Irma was last located just 110 miles (155 km) north of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and 165 miles (270 km) southeast of Grand Turk Island.

9 am EST: Hurricane Irma to reach Cuba on Friday
The NHC said, "Irma is a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane and will bring life-threatening wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to the northern coast of Hispaniola today, and the Turks and Caicos tonight, the Bahamas tonight through Saturday. A Hurricane Watches is in effect for much of Cuba. Irma is likely to bring dangerous wind, storm surge, and rainfall to portions of these areas on Friday and Saturday."

9 am EST: Florida Hurricane Watches for expected later

9 am EST: All the latest NHC warnings
Hurricane Warnings: Northwestern Bahamas, Southeastern Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Central Bahamas, Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti and Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le Mole St. Nicholas.

Hurricane Watches: Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo province, Northwestern Bahamas

Tropical Storm Warnings: Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engano westward to the southern border with Haiti, Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince, Cuba provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas

7:40 am EST: Track hugging East Coast 'appears most likely'
Dr. Steven Godby, an expert in natural hazards at Nottingham Trent University, said, "From later today into Friday Irma will be affecting the southern islands of the Bahamas before passing close the northern coast of Cuba, perhaps moving just inland for a time. By Sunday morning forecast models place Irma close to southeast Florida, probably as a slightly weakened Category 4 storm, but still extremely dangerous.

7:35 am EST: WFTV 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said residents in central Florida must get ready by 5 pm on Saturday ahead of the worst impacts on Sunday and Monday.

7:24 am EST: WTTG FOX 5 meteorologist Mike Thomas tweeted, "Majority of models still on a scary track for southern Florida with Irma. How it interacts with islands next few days KEY to its strength."

7:18 am EST: Theme parks in Orlando monitor Hurricane Irma

7:16 am EST: Could Hurricane Jose develop into category 5?
Dr. Adrian Champion, of the University of Exeter, said: “It's difficult to predict whether Irma will continue to strengthen – they get their energy from warm oceans and, given it's already made landfall, you could expect it to weaken – but now it's passing over the ocean again it could re-intensify.

"The question regarding whether Jose will develop into a category five hurricane is mixed. Given that Irma has just passed through, there isn't as much 'energy' to intensify Jose. However, the conditions are similar."

7 am EST: Richard Branson is ok on damaged island of Necker
Richard Branson’s son Sam posted on Instagram, "Branson is ok on Necker, but lots of damage to the island."

6:58 am EST: Hurricane Irma path over South East Florida
NHC scientist Eric Blake tweeted, "Disheartening to see the center of the cone staying over SE Florida. Miami hurricane force wind probabilities now up to about 50%!"

The latest storm track map shows Irma is set to hit Florida on Sunday and near the border between Georgian and South Carolina on Monday. The cone, which contains the probable path of the storm centre, has shifted to the east, raising hopes that Irma might change path and stay offshore.

6:45 am EST: Thousands left without power in Puerto Rico

6:30 am EST: Tropical storm force wind to reach Florida Keys on Saturday
The NHC said the earliest reasonable arrival time of tropical storm force winds in Florida Keys is early morning hours Saturday.

6 am EST: Hurricane Irma moves off the Dominican Republic
The eye of category 5 is moving west-northwestward off the northeast of the Dominican Republic, according to the NHC.

6 am EST: Hurricane Irma just 210 miles from Grand Turk Island
Irma was last located just 95 miles (155 km) north of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and 210 miles (335 km) east-southeast of Grand Turk Island.

5:35 am EST: Latest Florida evacuations
Mandatory evacuations: Miami Dade (zones A and B), Monroe County

5 am EST: Irma heads towards Dominican Republic
The NOAA warned that the eye of Hurricane Irma is heading towards the northeast of the Dominican Republic.

4 am EST: Florida's Suncoast to be 'spared the worst'
AMS meteorologist Steve Newman has tweeted, "ECMWF plot of rainfall, clouds and pressure shows Florida's Suncoast being spared the worst consequences of Hurricane Irma."

"ECMWF plot of Florida rainfall from Irma. Atlantic coast may get up to 10" with 2-4" along the Suncoast if accurate."

3 am EST: Hurricane winds remain 180mph
Irma was last located about 140 miles north-west of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and about 255 miles east-south-east of Grand Turk Island.

The category 5 hurricane still has nearly 180mph, and will remain a very powerful storm for the next several days despite some lightening of the eyewall.

12:19 am EST: Hurricane Katia 'drifts' in Gulf of Mexico
Hurricane Katia is 'drifting' in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, the NHC said. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Cabo Rojo to Laguna Verde in Mexico.

2:24 am EST: Britain responds to disaster in overseas territory of Anguilla
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the UK is "taking swift action to respond" to the disaster in Anguilla, a British overseas territory that was among the first islands to be hit.

Britons in the region have been urged to follow evacuation orders and states of emergency have been declared in Puerto Rico, Cuba and Florida.

A British naval ship has been deployed with 40 Royal Marines, army engineers and equipment on board in a bid to bring aid to the smaller Caribbean slands.

2:02 am EST: High winds and flash floods hit Puerto Rico.
The US territory is the most recent island to be struck by the devastating storm.

1:09 am EST: Surfer dies trying to surf waves off Barbados
Zander Venezia, 16, sustained a fatal neck injury while surfing destructive waves, generated by Irma, at Box by Box off Barbados.

Surf instructor Alan Burke said, "I'm told that Zander got overturned by a closeout set [a type of wave that can block a surfer's path], where he likely hit bottom."

12:45 am EST: Miami-bound flights cancelled on Friday
American Airlines is winding down operations in parts of south Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, on Friday. Miami-bound flights from Europe and South America were cancelled.

American, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue all announced fare caps on flights out of Florida as residents trying to get out of the storm's path.

"We want those trying to leave ahead of the hurricane to focus on their safe evacuation rather than worry about the cost of flights," JetBlue spokesman Doug McGraw said.

WEDNESDAY

10:52 pm EST: Five days of rain are forecast for most of Mexico's territory due to the effects of storms in the region including Katia, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Jose, said Luis Felipe Puente, the head of Mexico's national emergency services.
Hurricane Katia churned almost 200 miles (322 km) off the Gulf coast of Mexico on Wednesday evening before an expected turn towards land that could dump heavy rain on eastern states in the coming days, the U.S. National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said.

10:02 pm EST: At least four dead as Hurricane Irma barrels towards Florida
At least four people were reported killed on four different islands by Irma, which weather forecasters have described as a "potentially catastrophic" Category 5 storm, the highest US classification for hurricanes.

The dual-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda was especially hard hit. The northernmost island, Barbuda, home to roughly 1,800 people, was "totally demolished," with 90 percent of all dwellings there leveled, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said, according to island television broadcasts.

7:26 pm EST: Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda estimates the cost of damage caused by Irma on Barbuda Island at $150million.
The "absolute devastation" wrought by Hurricane Irma to the Caribbean island of Barbuda has caused estimated damages of some $150 million, Gaston Browne, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said on Wednesday.

"This rebuilding initiative will take years," Browne told local television after a visit to the island, where he confirmed at least one person had died due to the storm.

5:55 pm EST: Airlines make alterations
Airlines have adjusted flight schedules, made cancellations and assured passengers they would not have to pay unusually high fares ahead of the storm's arrival.

American Airlines, the largest U.S. carrier by passenger traffic, on Wednesday said it would begin winding down operations in south Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, on Friday. Miami-bound flights arriving on Friday from Europe and South America were canceled.

Delta Air Lines and JetBlue announced fare caps on flights out of Florida - $99 on JetBlue and $399 on Delta - for residents trying to get out of the storm's path.

"We want those trying to leave ahead of the hurricane to focus on their safe evacuation rather than worry about the cost of flights," JetBlue spokesman Doug McGraw said.

5:30 pm EST: Third hurricane forms at Katia upgraded
Incredibly a third hurricane has now formed in the Gulf of Mexico, with Katia being upgraded from a tropical storm.

A hurricane watch is in effect for the coast of the state of Veracruz from Tuxpan to Laguna Verde.

The Mexican Government has issued a hurricane watch for the region meaning hurricane conditions are possible.

5:10 pm EST: Jose upgraded from tropical storm to hurricane
As Hurricane Irma continues to batter its way through the Caribbean towards Florida, Hurricane Jose has strengthened quickly from a tropical storm.

Hurricane Jose is still located deep in the Atlantic Ocean but is strengthening quickly as it approaches the Caribbean.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced this evening," Additional strengthening is forecast, and Jose could be near major hurricane strength on Friday. They said it had shown sustained winds of 75mph "with higher gusts.

No alerts are currently in place at any islands or territories but the NHC did say anyone with "interests in the Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of Jose."

4:00 pm EST: NHC issues alert
Hurricane Irma is now "battering" the Virgin Islands, according to a 4:00 pm EST update by the National Hurricane Centre (NHC).

The alert said maximum sustained winds of 185mph had been recorded - speeds described as "life threatening" by Caribbean officials earlier this week.

The latest satellite imagery provided by the NHC shows Irma continuing its route west, towards Haiti, Cuba and Florida.

1:30 pm EST: Hurricane Irma could affect 37 million people
As many as 37 million people could feel the effects of the terrifying hurricane Irma, claimed UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Mr Dujarric said, "As Hurricane Irma is moving west over the Caribbean, our humanitarian colleagues are deploying a team to Barbados today to work with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). Additional teams are on standby to travel. Estimates of population exposure to the hurricane could be as high as 37 million people, according to Dujarric.

"In Haiti, the U.N. Country Team is fully supporting Haitian authorities and OCHA Haiti has also deployed staff to the northern departments of the country, which are likely to be impacted.

1:15 pm EST: Hurricane Irma strikes the Virgin Islands
The US and UK Virgin Islands have bow fallen under the devastating wind of Hurricane Irma.

Forecaster Micheal Ventrice tweeted, "Current look at Major Hurricane #Irma after devastating parts of the N. Leeward islands. Irma is now bearing down on the Virgin Islands."

Parts of the hurricane are expected to affect the northern reaches of Puerto Rico. Irma is then forecast to make its way towards the Turks and Caicos Islands, reaching them by late Thursday.

10:27 am EST: Hurricane Irma 'so big that it would cover the UK and Ireland'
Liam Dutton, weather presenter for Channel4 News, said, "Hurricane Irma is so big that it would cover the UK and Ireland. It's currently heading through the Caribbean towards Florida this weekend."

9:52 am EST: Florida Keys residents to be evacuated
A mandatory evacuation order will go into effect for all residents of Florida Keys tonight, Florida’s Governor Rick Scott has announced.

He wrote on Twitter, "Every Floridian should take storm preparations seriously and be aggressive to protect their family. There is currently a mandatory evacuation order for all visitors in the FL Keys - this order will go into effect for all residents tonight. We can expect additional evacuations as this storm continues to near our state. EVERYONE must listen to your local officials."

Visit http://www.FL511.com for real-time traffic information and evacuation routes. Please do not ignore evacuation orders. Remember, we can rebuild your home, not your life. Do not sit and wait for #HurricaneIrma to come. It is EXTREMELY dangerous & deadly - it will cause devastation. GET PREPARED NOW."

9:00 am EST: Latest video of Hurricane Irma
Terrifying videos of Hurricane Irma blasting the Caribbean are beginning to appear on Twitter. Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Seidel shared a 45-second clip of hurricane winds tearing through St Maarten overnight.

St. Maarten gets blasted overnight by the eye wall of Hurricane #Irma
Listen to the road of the wind. pic.twitter.com/r5ehqxzNhu

— Mike Seidel (@mikeseidel) September 6, 2017

8:50 am EST: NOAA update – Irma track shifts east
The latest NOAA advisory at 8am AST (12pm UTC) places Irma 15 miles west of St Martin and 15 miles west-south-west of Anguilla

The storm is moving west-northwest at 16mph and is forecast to move over the northern Virgin Islands later today.

"The forecast has become more uncertain after 72 h due to large eastward shifts by the ECMWF, Canadian, and HWRF models related to forecasts of the mid- to upper-level trough over the southeastern United States,” the NOAA said.

"The bulk of the guidance now calls for Irma to turn northward between 78W-80W, moving near or over the Florida east coast or the northwestern Bahamas."

8:30 am EST: St Martin and St Barts hit by flooding and blackouts
The French government has confirmed widespread flooding and blackouts on St Martin and St Barts.

Government buildings on St Martin have been destroyed, French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb confirmed. "We know that the four most solid buildings on the island have been destroyed which means that more rustic structures have probably been completely or partially destroyed," he told reporters.

Several roofs have been blown off, and the island's fire station has been damaged.

On St Barts, several homes have been damaged and the fire station is under 3 feet of water. Both islands are without electricity.

7:45 am EST: Hurricane Irma engulfs St Martin and Anguilla
Philip Klotzbach, meteorologist at CSU, tweeted, "The eye of Cat. 5 Hurricane Irma has engulfed both St Martin and Anguilla as it continues its rampage across the Leeward Islands."

7:41 am EST: Hurricane Irma hits St Barts and St Martin
French Observatory Keraunos tweeted, "St Martin is also now in the eye of Hurricane Irma, with St Bart coming out of it imminently. #Antilles."

Daniel Gibbs, president of the territorial community of St Martin, said, "We have never seen this in St Martin. Even the walls are shaking."

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy tweeted, "Support for the Caribbean. Special thoughts for our compatriots in St Martin and St Barts. We are wholeheartedly with you."

6:25 am EST: Weather models shift east of Florida
Tom Terry, chief meteorologist at WFTV/WRDQ, tweeted, "All major global weather models have shifted track of Irma east. This is just one model run, hopefully a trend."

6:20 am EST: 'Extreme conditions reach' St Martin
French Observatory Keraunos tweeted, "The most extreme conditions reach Saint Martin, the most populated island in the area (about 75,000 inhabitants)."

5:49 am EST: 'Zero to like' about track for southeast Florida
NHC scientist Eric Blake tweeted, "There is zero to like about NHC forecast trends for SE #Florida. Please please prepare in advance to protect u & your loved ones from Irma."

5:42 am EST: 'We don't how close Irma will get to Florida'
The WFTV 9 weatherman said there has been a shift the east, saying, "We don't know how close this is going to get to central Florida."

5:38 am EST: Irma is 'strongest storm ever' to hit St Martin
WTTG FOX 5 Meteorologist Mike Thomas tweeted, "Category 5 Hurricane #Irma (185mph winds) to pass over Saint Martin soon.

"Strongest storm to ever hit them. Keep them in your thoughts today."

5:15 am EST: Most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane ever recorded - winds remain at 185mph
The hurricane is bringing devastating 185mph winds (295 km/h) and monster storm surges, dramatically pushing up sea levels around the Leeward Islands.

5:13 am EST: 'Increasing' chance of Hurricane Irma hitting Florida
The NHC warned: "The chance of direct impacts from Irma beginning later this week and this weekend from wind, storm surge, and rainfall continues to increase in the Florida Keys and portions of the Florida Peninsula.

"However, it is too soon to specify the timing and magnitude of these impacts."

5:12 am EST: Hurricane Irma heads towards Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, Bahamas
The NHC warned, "Irma is a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane and will bring life-threatening wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to portions of the northern Leeward Islands, including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, today.

Irma is on track to affect northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, parts of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos on Wednesday night through Friday.

The NHC added, "Irma could directly affect the remainder of the Bahamas and Cuba as an extremely dangerous major hurricane later this week."

5:10 am EST: Eye of Irma moves toward St Martin
The NHC warned, "Eye of potentially catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Irma moving away from Barbuda and toward St Martin."

Irma was last located just 35 miles (55 km) east-southeast of St Martin and 145 miles (235 km) east of St Croix.

The NHC warned, "On the forecast track, the extremely dangerous core of Irma will move over portions of the northern Leeward Islands this morning, move near or over portions of the northern Virgin Islands later today, and pass near or just north of Puerto Rico this afternoon or tonight."

5:05 am EST: Hurricane Warning issued for Bahamas - All the warnings
Hurricane Warning issued for southeastern Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands. Hurricane Watch issued for central Bahamas. Dominica Tropical Storm warning ends.

Hurricane Warnings: Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St Kitts, Nevis, Saba, St Eustatius, Sint Maarten, St Martin, St Barths, British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, Guadeloupe, southeastern Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Dominican Republic from Cabo Engao to northern border with Haiti.

Hurricane Watches: Central Bahamas, Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo, Haiti from northern border of the Dominican Republic to Le Mole St Nicholas.

Tropical Storm warnings: Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engano westward to the southern border with Haiti.

4:20 am EST: Jose to become the next Atlantic hurricane by tonight
Tropical Storm Jose is gaining power over the Atlantic and is expected to become a hurricane by Wednesday night.

Tropical Depression 13 is drifting east in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and could become a hurricane in a couple of days.

3:30 am EST: Eye of Hurricane Irma ‘passing over’ Barbuda
The NHC warned that the eye of the ‘potentially catastrophic’ Hurricane Irma has made landfall on the island of Barbuda.

The National Weather Service said the eye of hurricane passed over one of the islands that make up the nation of Barbuda and Antigua in the Caribbean, at 1:47 am local time.

2:30 am EST: Irma to 'peak at 190mph' in next 24-36 hours
Meterologist Ryan Maue tweetsed, "Based on near perfect environment for Irma Hurricane to intensify, expecting a peak of 900 mb central pressure & 190mph in next 24-36 hrs." Mr. Maue shared a new ECMWF model which forecasts a category 5 Irma to hit Miami by early Sunday.

1:45 am EST: National Hurricane Center scientist left speechless
Tyler Trogdon, a senior scientist for the NHC's Storm Surge Unit, tweeted, "I am at a complete and utter loss for words looking at Irma's appearance on satellite imagery."

Meteorologists have claimed that Irma is the first storm of its type to reach such catastrophic speeds at its current level of pressure – 916 millibars (mb). Normally a Hurricane would have to drop below 900mb before reaching such devastating speeds.

12:45 pm EST Donald Trump signs emergency declarations
Donald Trump has signed emergency declarations for Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands as Hurricane Irma approaches.

Florida Governor Rick Scott has told all 7,000 of the state's National Guard troops to report for duty Friday morning.

TUESDAY

11:01 pm EST: Tropical Depression 13 could become hurricane
The NHC warned that Tropical Depression 13 in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico could become a hurricane in the next couple of days.

10:22 pm EST: US Navy evacuates thousands from Florida base
The US Navy is evacuating one of its Florida bases and more than 5,000 military personnel are being moved out of the region to safety.

A Navy spokesman confirmed the "mandatory evacuation of nonessential personnel and dependents from NAS Key West to safe haven within 300 miles of Atlanta, Georgia."

7:30 pm EST: Footage of Hurricane Irma captured from the International Space Station
Dramatic footage from the International Space Station's external cameras has captured Hurricane Irma as it churns across the Atlantic Ocean. The footage shows the sheer scale and magnitude of the storm which has been upgraded to a Category Five storm.

5:40 pm EST: Gas futures drop as hurricane approaches
In stocks, benchmark US gasoline futures have fallen nearly 4 percent as refineries restarted. Futures traders worried that the approaching Hurricane Irma could disrupt demand while supply recovered as most refineries returned to service.

5:00 pm EST: Sir Richard Branson refuses to leave private Caribbean island
British billionaire and adventurer Sir Richard Branson will stay on his private Caribbean island of Necker for the potentially devastating arrival of Hurricane Irma.

Branson said, "We had some lovely guests staying on Necker Island who have cut their trip short for safety reasons, and another group of guests have also postponed. "I will be on Necker alongside our team, as I have been on the three times we have had hurricanes over the past 30 years."

Branson said Necker boasts "really strong" buildings with hurricane blinds "that should be able to handle extreme weather pretty well."

3:40 pm EST: Hurricane Irma hits the record books
Hurricane Irma is expected to register Category 4+ for five consecutive days - only the fourth time this has happened since 1966.

It is also only the 13th time a hurricane of such strength has come within 50 miles of the city.

2:50 pm EST: Monroe Florida issues evacuation order
A state of local emergency and mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in Monroe County, Florida.

All visitors, tourists and non-residents are required to leave, staring 7 am EST on Wednesday.

"If ever there was a storm to take seriously in the Keys, this is it," said Monroe County Emergency Management Director Martin Senterfitt. "The sooner people leave, the better."

2:24 pm EST: 'Catastrophic' Irma could pass over Barbuda and Anguilla
Meteorologist Eric Fisher tweeted: “The eye of #Irma may pass directly over Barbuda and Anguilla in the next 12-24 hours. Catastrophic not hyperbole in this case.

2:20 pm EST: Hurricane Irma wind speeds pick up
Hurricane Irma is now pushing maximum wind speeds of up to 185mph (297.7 km/h).

1:30 pm EST: Hurricane Watches for Bahamas, Haiti and Dominican Republic
Hurricane Watches now cover the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas, including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands.

A Hurricane Watch is is place for the north coast of Haiti from the border of the Dominican Republic westward to Le Mole St Nicholas and from Cabo Engao to Haiti.

There are also Tropical Storm Watch from south of Le Mole St Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince as well as from south of Cabo Engao to Isla Saona.

Other Hurricane Warnings: Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St Kitts, Nevis, Saba, St Eustatius, Sint Maarten, St Martin, St Barths, British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra.

Other Hurricane Watches: Guadeloupe. Other Tropical Storm warnings: Guadeloupe and Dominica.