WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Tuesday morning that Hurricane Irma has strengthened to category five as it moves toward Cuba and southern United States.
Hurricane Irma is now sustaining maximum winds of 280 kilometers per hour, and is expected to affect the northeastern Leeward Islands as an extremely dangerous hurricane, accompanied by life-threatening gale, storm surge and rainfall, said the NHC.
There is an increasing chance of seeing some impacts from Irma in the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys later this week and this weekend, the NHC said, noting the hurricane is moving west at 23 kilometers per hour.
"It is still early to determine what direct impact Irma might have on the continental United States," the NHC said, warning residences in hurricane-prone areas should "ensure that they have their hurricane plan in place."
Governor of Florida Rick Scott tweeted Monday afternoon that he had declared a state of emergency for every county in Florida.
"I urge all Floridians to remain vigilant and stay alert to local weather and news," Scott said.
Weather officials are predicting 25 cm of rainfall as a result of Irma, and also warned of landslides among other natural disasters.
Irma is expected to surpass the ferocity of Hurrican Harvey, which has killed 66 and caused more than 70 billion U.S. dollars in property damage, after making landfall late August in Texas.
Arriving on the heels of Hurricane Harvey, Irma may potentially strain U.S. disaster-relief resources, according to U.S. media reports.
