Irma – Jose – Katia
We now have tropical storms Jose and Katia to throw into the mix of an active weather pattern in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Our main concern is Irma which is still forecast to move up towards Florida by the end of the week – the GFS has Irma taking a sharp turn to the north as it approaches the keys and then moving up the east coast into Georgia and the Carolina’s – still a bit early to tell for sure as these storms have a mind of their own.
Katia is expected to drift into Mexico. Jose is expected to turn into a hurricane by early tomorrow morning – below are the current graphics from the National Hurricane Center.
Irma is a Cat 5 hurricane and will have devastating effects. Islands under hurricane warning include Aguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Puerto Rico, the US and British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Martin/St. Maarten, St. Barts, the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti, Guadeloupe, the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Cool and unsettled weather will continue through Thursday night with highs generally in the lower 60s. Showers and some thunderstorms will be particularly common near the lakeshore and over Lake Michigan. Dry conditions are then expected from Friday through Tuesday with highs climbing back into the 70s by Sunday.
