Hurricane Irma Blasts Past Puerto Rico With 180-MPH Winds; Risk Rises For Florida
Irma has weakened slightly — its sustained winds are now 175 mph instead of 185 mph — but it's likely to remain a Category 5 storm for the next few days.
Updated at 11:10 a.m. ET
Hurricane Irma is bringing death and destruction to the Caribbean and raising alarm in Florida, where the chance of a direct impact continues to rise. The storm is blamed for at least nine deaths; thousands of people are being told to get out of its way.
The Category 5 storm has weakened somewhat but is still "extremely dangerous," the National Hurricane Center says, reporting 175-mph maximum sustained winds in its 11 a.m. ET advisory on Thursday.
A hurricane watch is now in effect for parts of Florida, from Jupiter Inlet (north of West Palm Beach) south around the peninsula to Bonita Beach (south of Fort Myers).
