FORT MYERS, Fla. Here is what you need to know about Hurricane Irma as the storm develops:
11:00 p.m.
Irma’s forecast track nudges westward as of the 11 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Irma’s maximum sustained winds weakened to 120 mph.
Irma is expected to remain a Category 3 Hurricane, according to WINK News Chief Meteorologist Jim Farrell said.
The Category 3 storm was positioned about 90 miles southeast of Key West, moving northwest at 6 mph.
WINK News Chief Meteorologist Jim Farrell provided details on the latest advisory:
Here is the latest forecast cone:
10:50 p.m.
Gov. Rick Scott reminded Florida residents to charge their cell phones ahead of Hurricane Irma.
More than 76,000 have lost power. Charge your cell phone now so you will have a full battery in case you lose power #FLPrepares
— Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) September 10, 2017
10:00 p.m.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge was closed to traffic, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
9:30 p.m.
The long-forecast turn toward Florida is happening.
Hurricane Irma appears to be pivoting toward the north, taking it off the generally westerly direction it’s followed for the last several days and putting it on a course toward Southwest Florida.
WINK Chief Meteorologist Jim Farrell analyzes Doppler Radar indicating the northward jog:
9:18 p.m.
All law enforcement and emergency services will be discontinued at midnight until possibly mid-afternoon Monday in Glades County due to tropical storm force winds, according to Glades County emergency management officials.
9:08 p.m.
Irma’s maximum sustained winds strengthened to 125 mph as of the 9 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
The Category 3 storm was positioned about 105 miles southeast of Key West, moving west-northwest at 9 mph.
A turn northward toward Southwest Florida is likely to take place before midnight, Chief Meteorologist Jim Farrell said.
8:00 p.m.
Category 3 Hurricane Irma maximum sustained winds weakened slightly to 120 mph in the National Hurricane Center’s 8 p.m. advisory.
Irma was 110 miles southeast of Key West, moving west at 7 mph as of the latest advisory.
Here is the latest forecast cone:
7:12 p.m.
A curfew will be in effect for Collier County after Hurricane Irma passes if Sheriff Kevin Rambosk gets his way.
Rambosk will ask county commissioners to enact it, the sheriff’s office said.
It’s unclear what the hours of the curfew would be.
6:55 p.m.
If power goes out, it won’t be because Florida Power and Light turned it off before Hurricane Irma hits.
The company doesn’t pre-emptively shut down electricity for storms, the company said in a statement.
Read the statement below:
“FPL has built the most sophisticated and strongest power grid in the nation. Our goal is to continue providing our customers power now and during the storm. To be clear, FPL has no plans to shut down power to its customers. In fact, we have adequate power to continue serving all customers. After the storm hits, our crews will begin working to restore power as soon as conditions are safe. Once restoration begins in earnest, our goal is to get as many customers up and running as soon as possible and we will not stop until all power is restored.”
6:35 p.m.
The WINK Weather Authority team answers questions about Hurricane Irma on Facebook Live.
6:15 p.m.
Gov. Rick Scott provided updates on Hurricane Irma from Tallahassee:
5:00 p.m.
Category 3 Hurricane Irma maintained maximum sustained winds of 125 mph in the National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. advisory.
The revised forecast cone shows a slight jog to the west, WINK meteorologist Scott Zedeker said. But Southwest Florida is still poised for a direct hit.
Irma was 115 miles southeast of Key West, moving west at 9 mph as of the 5 p.m. advisory.
Watch more from Zedeker on the latest hurricane data:
4:40 p.m.
Charlotte County emergency management officials provided updates on Hurricane Irma:
4:15 p.m.
WINK News Meteorologist Brooke Silverang answered questions on the WINK News Facebook page.
4:10 p.m.
Lee County emergency management officials provided updates on Hurricane Irma:
3:45 p.m.
Water service in Englewood will remain on after 5 p.m., the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center said, clarifying an earlier update.
Manasota Key, Knight Island and customers of Bocilla Utilities will still see their water shut off at 5 p.m. Sewer service to Manasota Key will be shut down approximately two or three hours later.
3:30 p.m.
WINK News reporter John-Carlos Estrada has more from Clewiston:
3:20 p.m.
WINK News reporter Nicole Valdes spoke to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Greg Bueno at Germain Arena where evacuees are taking shelter:
3:15 p.m.
Cape Coral Mayor Marni Sawicki provides updates on Hurricane Irma over the phone live on WINK News:
2:50 p.m.
Collier County emergency management officials provide details on Hurricane Irma:
2:00 p.m.
Category 3 Hurricane Irma had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph as of the 2 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
Irma was 145 miles southeast of Key West, moving west at 9 mph as of the latest advisory.
“Major hurricane force winds expected over the Florida Keys at daybreak,” the National Hurricane Center said.
WINK News Chief Meteorologist has details about the latest advisory:
The latest forecast cone is below:
1:07 p.m.
Volunteer nurses and healthcare workers are needed to assist at the Special Needs Shelter at Palmetto Ridge High School on 1655 Victory Lane, Naples, according to the Florida Health. Volunteers must bring ID with applicable licenses.
1:05 p.m.
All LeeTran bus service will end at 3 p.m., according to the Lee County Government Operations Center.
12:35 p.m.
Gov. Rick Scott provides updates on Hurricane Irma over the phone:
11:03 a.m.
Hurricane Irma weakened to a Category 3 storm as of the 11 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
But it’s forecast to restrengthen before it moves toward Florida.
Irma was 175 miles southeast of Key West, moving west at 9 mph as of the latest advisory.
The latest forecast cone is below:
WINK Meteorologists Matt Devitt and Zach Maloch gave a live update:
10:24 a.m.
Water and sewer service will be shut off soon for parts of coastal Charlotte and Sarasota counties.
Manasota Key, Englewood, Knight Island and residents served by Bocilla Utilities will be without water beginning at 5 p.m., The Englewood Water District said.
Sewer service to Manasota Key will end shortly thereafter.
For more information, call 941-474-3217.
9:20 a.m.
Gov. Scott provides updates on Hurricane Irma at a stop in Plantation:
9:17 a.m.
Lee County Solid Waste is suspending garbage, recycling and horticulture pickups until further notice due to storm conditions, Lee County officials said.
8:21 a.m.
WINK News reporter Chris Grisby has more:
8:05 a.m.
The 8 a.m. advisory keeps Hurricane Irma as a Category 4 storm over the north coast of Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said.
Hurricane Irma has maximum sustained winds at 130 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is moving west-northwest at 12 mph. The system is about 10 miles northwest of Caibarien, Cuba, and about 225 miles south of Miami.
As Hurricane Irma moves over Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said the “terrain of Cuba (is expected to) weaken the hurricane, but restrengthening is anticipated.”
The Hurricane Warning for The Hurricane Warning for the Central Bahamas and Ragged
Island was discontinued, according to the National Hurricane Center.
WINK meteorologist Matt Devitt went over Hurricane Irma’s latest advisory:
6:32 a.m.
WINK meteorologists Matt Devitt and Zach Maloch answer questions about Hurricane Irma live on Facebook:
5:17 a.m.
WINK News reporter John Trierweiler was live in Cape Coral in Evacuation Zone A as residents prepare for Hurricane Irma:
Here is a link to a website that helps find open shelters in Southwest Florida.
5:06 a.m.
Hurricane Irma weakened to a Category 4 storm as the eye continues moving over the Camaguey over the Archipelago of Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said.
Hurricane Irma has maximum sustained winds of 155 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. The system ism moving west-northwest at 12 mph, and is about 45 miles east of Caibarien, Cuba, and about 245 miles south-southeast of Miami.
The Hurricane Warning and Storm Surge Warnings are extended northward along Florida’s west coast from the Anclote River to Chassahowitzka, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The Hurricane Warning is extended northward along the Florida’s east coast to the Flagler and Volusia County line, the National Hurricane Center said.
A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for north of Fernandina Beach to Altamaha Sound, Georgia, according to the National Hurricane Center.
WINK meteorologists Matt Devitt and Zach Maloch went over the latest advisory for Hurricane Irma:
4:36 a.m.
WINK meteorologists Matt Devitt and Zach Maloch were live taking viewer questions on WINK News about Hurricane Irma:
3:26 a.m.
WINK News reporter was live in Estero as more than 40 cars were lined up, and some people sleeping outside as they await the opening of a shelter at 10 a.m. at Germain Arena:
3:20 a.m.
All Collier County shelters are at capacity, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said. Additional shelters will be announced at 8 a.m., but it’s unclear how many will reopen.
WINK News reporter Oliver Redsten was live at Mike Davis Elementary School in Collier County as hundreds of people hunkered down for the night:
2 a.m.
The 2 a.m. advisory keeps Hurricane Irma at a Category 5 storm as the eye moves over the Camaguey Archipelago of Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said.
Hurricane Irma’s maximum sustained winds are maintained at 160 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is moving west at 12 mph. The system is about 85 miles east-southeast of Caibarien, Cuba, and about 275 miles south-southeast of Miami, Florida.
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for the Volusia and Brevard County line — southward around the Florida peninsula to the Anclote River, the Florida Keys and Tampa Bay, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for north of the Volusia and Brevard County line to the Flagler and Volusia County line, as well as north of Anclote River to the Suwannee River, the National Hurricane Center said.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Volusia and Brevard County line southward around the Florida peninsula to the Anclote River, the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, Florida Bay, the Northwestern Bahamas, Central Bahamas and Ragged Island, as well as the Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, and Matanzas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for north of the Volusia and Brevard County Line to Fernandina Beach, north and west of Anclote River to Indian Pass, and the Cuban provinces of Holguin and Las Tunas, the National Hurricane Center said.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Holguin, Las Tunas, La Habana, and Ciudad de la Habana, according to the National Hurricane Center.
WINK meteorologists Matt Devitt and Zach Maloch go over the forecast track: