These Satellite Images Show the Massive, Destructive Scale of Hurricane Irma
Just two weeks after Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas and parts of the Gulf Coast, another monster hurricane has made landfall. Hurricane Irma grew into a dangerous Category 5 storm on Tuesday and showed no signs of losing strength. The National Hurricane Center called Irma a "potentially catastrophic" storm with winds that extend 50 miles from the center.
So far the hurricane has hit small Caribbean islands, reaching record wind speeds of 185 miles per hour. It's expected to hit Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and possibly Florida, where it could still be a Category 4 or 5 storm.
Satellite images from Tuesday and Wednesday show just how huge, and potentially catastrophic, the hurricane is. Take a look at how satellites are seeing Irma from space.
The eye of #Irma stands out clearly on full-disk satellite imagery tonight. pic.twitter.com/svHbSfzteY
- Jeff Frame (@VORTEXJeff) September 6, 2017
Get a good look at Hurricane #Irma's eye with this visible imagery from #GOES16! For the latest info on Irma, go to https://t.co/cSGOfrM0lG pic.twitter.com/q4Q5UtPlIP
- NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) September 5, 2017
#GOES16 captured this visible imagery of Hurricane #Irma's eye earlier today. For the latest on Irma, go to https://t.co/cSGOfrM0lG. pic.twitter.com/JcKBXcl0Ws
- NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) September 5, 2017
I count at least 4 meso-vortices rotating around the center axis....and what an awesome stadium effect! #Irma #GOES16 non-operational pic.twitter.com/0gegl4PicQ
- Dan Lindsey (@DanLindsey77) September 5, 2017
#GOES16 captured this geocolor image of Hurricane #Irma approaching Anguilla at about 7:00 am (EDT). Latest info @ https://t.co/cSGOfrM0lG pic.twitter.com/R24P0Q1EPm
- NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) September 6, 2017
Watch as Hurricane #Irma moves toward the Leeward Islands in this #GOES16 geocolor loop. Get the latest on Irma @ https://t.co/cSGOfrM0lG pic.twitter.com/ixIhkXqVNa
- NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) September 5, 2017
Saint-Martin and Anguilla appear to have taken a direct hit by cat 5 Hurricane #Irma. #GOES16 pic.twitter.com/1CN1JL0GEC
- NASA SPoRT (@NASA_SPoRT) September 6, 2017
Hurricane #Irma now taking aim on the Virgin Islands. Maximum sustained winds remain at 185 MPH. #GOES16 pic.twitter.com/inc4PPxRBz
- NASA SPoRT (@NASA_SPoRT) September 6, 2017
Another day, another amazing/scary/beautiful #GOES16 VIS loop of #HurricaneIrma pic.twitter.com/Lc0tm8au7F
- Dan Lindsey (@DanLindsey77) September 6, 2017
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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