Although the latest forecasts of Hurricane Irma show the storm striking the Florida west coast, residents in Jacksonville and the rest of the First Coast need to be prepared for the hurricane. The Jacksonville coast is now under a hurricane watch. The storm is expected to reach Jacksonville by Sunday night, with residents feeling the effects of the storm all day Monday. Although the Jacksonville area is currently experiencing strong winds and rains, this is not due to Irma, but because of a Nor’easter.
NHC/NOAAThe National Hurricane Center’s 8:00 a.m. ET Hurricane Irma projection.
The Weather Channel reports that tropical storm force winds will began Sunday night, with the strongest winds felt early Monday morning. The important high tide times are Sunday, 12:19 p.m.; Monday 12:39 a.m.; and Monday, 1:12 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service, Jacksonville is under a flash flood watch until Monday morning. A storm surge watch and hurricane warning are both in effect. Jacksonville will continue to see hurricane and tropical storm conditions until Monday night, and there will be a chance of scattered showers throughout the rest of the week.
The 2:00 p.m. ET public advisory from the National Hurricane Center reports that Irma is a Category 3 hurricane. Its maximum sustained winds are at 120 mph and it is moving at 12 mph. It has already made landfall, passing the Florida Keys.
Here’s the seven-day forecast from the NWS:
Today: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 79. Very windy, with a northeast wind 22 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible.
Tonight: Tropical storm conditions expected, with hurricane conditions possible. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 76. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts in excess of 4 inches possible.
Monday: Tropical storm conditions expected, with hurricane conditions possible. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 82. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Very windy, with a south wind 18 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 16 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Earlier this week, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry issued a mandatory evacuation for Zones A and B. To find out which evacuation zone you are in, click here to use FloridaDisaster.org. You can also find the full list of shelters at COJ.net.