Unable to recover from the devastating Harvey, US residents had to prepare for an even more dangerous storm - Hurricane Irma.
Strongest hurricane
With a wind speed of 300 kilometers per hour, Irma is now considered the most powerful hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. It is the second largest in the Atlantic Basin, which includes the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, second only to Hurricane Allen, which hit the region in 1980 with wind speeds of 305 km / h.
Affected territories
The storm has already destroyed several islands, including Barbuda, where people were asked to urgently evacuate. Moreover, a Category 5 hurricane reached Florida over the weekend, where the evacuation of local residents was previously carried out. Over the next few days, the strength of the hurricane will decline, but the danger it poses cannot be overstated.
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“The price that those who refuse to evacuate can pay is life or serious physical harm,” said Prime Minister of the Bahamas Hubert Minnis, reports the Associated Press.
As expected, the storm hit Puerto Rico, then the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba, and over the weekend it reached mainland Florida.
Hurricane winds, heavy rain and storm surges were recorded over most of its territory. Irma can also reach Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
It should be noted that for the first time America faced the consequences of two severe storms that hit the same territory in the same season.
"Fuel" for hurricanes
As the oceans are warming up due to climate change, they provide good fuel for hurricanes as they intensify over warm water. Irma is currently above water, which is 1 ° C warmer than usual.
It is expected that after Irma, the United States may be approached by tropical storm Jose, which in the coming days will turn into a category II hurricane. Most likely, it will not reach land, but it can hit the northeastern Caribbean islands.
Effects
Hurricane Irma caused waves of 4.5 meters high. In addition, parts of Florida were flooded by half a meter due to heavy rain. In the southeast of the Bahamas, waves up to 6 meters could be seen.
Residents of Puerto Rico may be left without electricity for months after a storm. President Trump has declared a state of emergency in the Virgin Islands and Florida, which have not seen such a storm since Hurricane San Felipe in 1928.
“The decisions we make can affect people's lives,” said Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello. "This is an extremely dangerous storm."
Anna Pismenna