NWS Irma wind speeds for Saturday.
As Hurricane Irma makes an ominous shift to the west in recent forecasting models, people in Lee County and Fort Myers are urged to seek shelter.
Lee County Emergency Management will be announcing more shelter openings soon. As of 9 a.m. Saturday, here is the current status of shelters, according to the county:
The following shelters are full:
Estero Recreation Center
Varsity Lakes Middle School
Island Coast High School
South Fort Myers High School
Space is available at other shelters open now:
East Lee County High School, 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave. Lehigh Acres
Harns Marsh MIddle School, 1820 Unice Ave. North Lehigh Acres
Oak Hammock Middle School, Fort Myers
These shelters will open at 10 a.m.:
Ray V. Pottorf Elementary, 4600 Challenger Blvd., Fort Myers
FGCU’s Alico Arena, 10501 FGCU Boulevard South, Estero
Germain Arena, 11000 Everglades Parkway, Estero
Note:
Pets are welcome at all shelters. Evacuees are reminded to bring crates or at least have pets on leashes. Germain Arena advises they do not have pet-sheltering capabilities. However, no one will be turned away from the shelter while capacity remains.”
In addition, Lee County expanded evacuation orders. As of Saturday:
Lee County expands mandatory evacuations
“Lee County Emergency Management has announced additional mandatory evacuations effectively immediately for Evacuation Zone B south of the Caloosahatchee in Fort Myers and Zone B south of Pine Island Road in Cape Coral.
A previous announcement put in place mandatory evacuations of Evacuation Zone A and portions of the Imperial River basin between East Terry, Bonita Beach Road and Interstate 75. That includes:
All of the barrier islands (Boca Grande/Gasparilla, Cayo Costa, Useppa, Cabbage Key, North Captiva, Captiva, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, San Carlos Island, Bonita Beach)
Cape Coral west of Burnt Store Road and south of Cape Coral Parkway, east of Del Prado Boulevard to Viscaya Parkway
North Fort Myers south of Bay Shore Road from Moody Road to State Road 31 and areas south of North River Road from State Road 31 to Fichters Creek.
Areas of Iona south of Maple Drive, west of U.S. 41
San Carlos Park west of U.S. 41,
Estero west of U.S. 41, north of the Estero River
Bonita Springs communities along Estero Bay and the Imperial River Basin.”
There is now a hurricane warning for Fort Myers and Lee County with a projection of hurricane conditions as early as Saturday night:
NWSSaturday midday forecast for Fort Myers.
See the updated weather page for Fort Myers here.