Hurricane Irma leaves 'unprecedented' destruction in the Caribbean, kills at least 10

[mystery-ak]

Hurricane Irma leaves 'unprecedented' destruction in the Caribbean, kills at least 10
By MARK OSBORNEMORGAN WINSOR  Sep 7, 2017, 10:05 AM ET

Hurricane Irma skirted north of the Dominican Republic early Thursday as the powerful Category 5 storm set its sights on south Florida after leaving a trail of death and destruction in the Caribbean.

Irma, dubbed the most powerful Atlantic storm in a decade, had maximum sustained winds of 180 mph early Thursday morning as it moved away from the northern coast of Puerto Rico and over the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The wind speeds were down slightly from the day before, but only by 5 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

"Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a powerful Category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days," the National Weather Service said in its advisory.

more
http://abcnews.go.com/US/hurricane-irma-continues-advance-florida-category-storm/story?id=49673384

[LadyLiberty]

Turks and Caicos are bracing for a direct hit.  The Bahamas will get a lot of damage and loss of life, too.  No high ground and a 15 to 20 ft storm surge.

[Applewood]

Watching the news.  Death toll now up to at least 14.

The island of Barbuda took a direct hit.  97% of the homes flattened.  That same island is in the path of another hurricane, Jose.