Hurricane And Storm Surge Watch Issued For South Florida

MIAMI, FL —The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane and storm surge watch for portions of South Florida and the Florida Keys. Hurricane Irma is expected to make landfall in Florida over the weekend.

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita
Beach and the Florida Keys.

A storm surge watch means there is the possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the watch area, generally within 48 hours, in association with a hurricane. The watch may be issued earlier when other conditions, such as the onset of tropical storm-force winds, are expected to limit the time available to take protective actions for surge (e.g., evacuations). The watch may also be issued for locations not expected to receive life-threatening inundation, but which could potentially be isolated by inundation in adjacent areas.

Governor Scott: Irma Much Worse Than Hurricane Andrew

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita
Beach, the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee and Florida Bay.

The National Weather Service says watches are issued 48 hours before tropical storm-force winds hit an area. During a hurricane watch you should prepare your home and review your plan for evacuation in case a hurricane or tropical storm warning is issued.

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Irma Barrels Toward Florida, Georgia, Carolinas

There have been very few cyclones stronger than Hurricane Irma, according to the Associated Press. While some have lasted longer, no other storm in recorded history has maintained top winds of 185 p.m. for 37 hours.

Colorado State University hurricane expert Phil Klotzbach says that breaks the previous record, held by Typhoon Haiyan, which had similar top winds for 24 hours before it hit the Philippines and killed 6,000 people in 2013.

Irma also has been the most intense Atlantic hurricane on record outside the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, measured by its barometric pressure of 914 millibars.