Three active hurricanes in the Atlantic basin keep the Caribbean islands, Florida and eastern Mexico in vilo: Irma (category 4) moves toward that US state, Jose (4) is approaching the smaller Antilles and Katia (2) will play soon Mexican lands.
According to bulletins published by the US National Hurricane Center (CNH). at 2100 GMT, Irma is causing hurricane winds in Cuba and central Bahamas, and has prompted the expansion of Florida areas on alert.
This hurricane, with winds of up to 155 miles per hour (250 km / h) and a speed of 12 miles per hour (19 km / h), is 195 miles (310 km) east of the Caribbean coast of Cuba and 345 miles (555 km) southeast of Miami.
Its center is expected to continue to advance near the north coast of Cuba and central Bahamas tonight and Saturday, and turn northwest toward the end of that day, bringing it closer to the Florida Keys and South the peninsula on Sunday morning.
The CNH warns that Irma will maintain its category 4 when approaching Florida. At the moment, its hurricane winds are perceived 70 miles (110 km) from the eye of the hurricane, although gusting gusts equivalent to those of a tropical storm can be seen up to 185 miles (295 km).
The area under hurricane warning, which includes the entire southern peninsula and the cays, has been extended northward along the east coast to Sebastian’s cove and along the west coast to the island of Ana Maria.
The area under hurricane alertness reaches as far as the Suwannee River, on the west side of the Florida peninsula, while the area under alert for sea level rise has also expanded northward.
“Near the coast, the rise of sea level will be accompanied by large and destructive waves,” adds the CNH.
The Cuban provinces of Camagüey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Guantanamo, HolguÃn, Las Tunas and Matanzas, as well as the center and northwest of the Bahamas are also on the alert.
According to the CNH, hurricane winds will be felt in Cuba until Saturday, as in the northwest of the Bahamas, while in southern and central Florida, including the cays, on Saturday night and early Sunday.
As for rainfall accumulations, in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Turks and Kaikos are expected up to 3 inches (76 mm); in the south of the Bahamas and north of Cuba between 10 and 15 inches (254 to 381 mm), and even up to 20 inches (500 mm) in isolated cases.
In Florida between 8 and 15 inches (203 and 381 mm) in the southern areas, and between 4 and 8 inches (100 and 203 mm) in the central area. Accumulations of water can also be important in neighboring states such as the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.
Do not rule out the production of tornadoes on Saturday morning in South Florida.
Meanwhile, Jose, of category 4, follows the wake of Irma and is located about 335 miles (540 km) east-southeast of the northern islands of Sotavento, with maximum sustained winds of 150 m / h (240 km / h) .
It advances to the west-northwest at 17 m / h (28 m / h) so it keeps on alert to Antigua, Barbuda, Saint Martin, Saint Bartholomew, Saba, Saint Eustatius, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Virgin Islands British, Saint Thomas and Saint John.
Given the strength of this hurricane, meteorologists urge to finalize the preparations to avoid damages as much as possible, although they expect Jose to turn northwest this evening, which could reduce his strength ahead of the weekend.
Its hurricane winds can be felt 35 miles (55 km) from the central eye. Its precipitations are expected to reach between 3 and 5 inches (76 to 127 mm) between Guadalupe and Antigua, with isolated accumulations of up to 8 inches (203 mm). The swell could rise between 2 and 4 feet (60 and 120 cm).
Katia, category 2, is about 120 miles (195 km) southeast of Tampico and will land between this night and early tomorrow on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, where it could arrive accompanied by a strong surge.
Its sustained maximum winds reach 105 m / h (165 km / h) and advance at 7 m / h (11 km / h) to the west-southwest and keep the coastal zones between Rio Panuco and the Port of Veracruz on the alert.
It is expected to rapidly weaken as soon as it hits the ground, according to the CNH, which says its strong winds are up to 70 miles (110 km) from the eye of the hurricane and are expected to raise sea levels between 5 and 8 feet (1.5 and 2.4 meters) in the area in which it touches earth and something further north.
Katia is expected to leave strong 10 to 15 inches (254 to 381 mm) precipitation over northern Veracruz, eastern Hidalgo and Puebla, as well as between 2 and 5 inches (50 and 127 mm) above southern Tamaulipas, east of San Luis PotosÃ, west of Hidalgo, east of Querétaro and south of Veracruz, although it could be the case of up to 635 millimeters in northern Veracruz, eastern Hidalgo, Puebla and San Luis Potosi.
