National Weather Service Hurricane Irma on September 5.
Hurricane Irma is a powerful Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds. However, what effect, if any, could the hurricane have on Boston, Massachusetts?
According to The Boston Globe, the storm’s danger to New England depends on its trajectory and, on September 7, that was too hard to predict. It depends on a lot of unknown variables, including how strong it would still be if it ever got there.
Furthermore, on September 7, the U.S. states that were most in peril from the hurricane were Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia, with the current models not approaching Massachusetts or New England.
NOAAThe latest Hurricane Irma map track as of September 7.
Here’s another view:
NWSThe Irma forecast cone as of the morning of September 7.
Spaghetti models showed the same thing.
South Florida Waste Management DistrictThursday morning spaghetti model.
The extended forecast for Boston on September 7 did not report any hurricane conditions.
NWSBoston weather forecast on the morning of September 7.
“Long-range forecasts indicated Irma likely would curve to the northwest beginning late Monday and skirt to the north of the islands in the eastern Caribbean on a path that could potentially take it to the U.S. East Coast, but it was too early to make a definitive prediction,” reported WCVB-TV. “StormTeam 5 said if the hurricane is going to make an East Coast impact, it would happen early next week, based on the current track of the storm.”
The initial danger was to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, with the storm then likely proceeding to Southern Florida, including the Florida Keys, where evacuation orders were issued on September 5. It’s what the storm does at that point that is full of unknowns, especially for states like South Carolina.
The recent models have shown a shift to the east and north.
“We know Irma is going to continue in a general westward movement the rest of the week. We also know eventually it’ll take a turn to the north. The precise timing of the turn is critical to how the United States is affected. If the turn occurs early enough, the storm could move along the coastline and not hit any land,” The Globe reported. “If the change in direction occurs just south of Florida, the storm could move through that state and then head north along the coast affecting multiple regions, even New England. The storm would weaken dramatically along the way but still create issues here sometime late next week.”
Key Messages on Hurricane #Irma as of 11 am AST/EDT:
See the weather page for Boston here. Boston’s weather is tracked by the National Weather Service office in Taunton, Massachusetts. See updated radar here. See Boston’s hourly forecast here. See satellite infrared radar for Boston here.
Don’t focus on the exact track of #Irma. There is a high probability of trop storm and hurricane conditions well away from the center.
There was no hazardous weather outlook posted on September 7 for Boston on the National Weather Service website.
Track Irma’s progress here.
Here’s the extended forecast for Boston from the National Weather Service on September 7:
“Today (September 7)
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 8 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 59. West wind 6 to 9 mph.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. West wind around 8 mph.
Friday Night
A slight chance of showers before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday
A chance of showers, mainly after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. North wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday Night
A slight chance of showers before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 75.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Wednesday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 40%.”