Mighty Hurricane Irma makes first landfall

[bathroommonkey76]

Source: CBS News

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua -- The most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history made its first landfall, over the islands of the northeast Caribbean early Wednesday, churning along a path pointing to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba before possibly heading for Florida over the weekend.

The eye of Hurricane Irma passed over Barbuda around 1:47 a.m., the National Weather Service said. Residents said over local radio that phone lines went down. Heavy rain and howling winds raked the neighboring island of Antigua, sending debris flying as people huddled in their homes or government shelters.

Officials warned people to seek protection from Irma's "onslaught" in a statement that closed with, "May God protect us all."

The Category 5 storm had maximum sustained winds of 185 mph early Wednesday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. Irma was some 5 miles north of Barbuda and 40 north of Antigua, moving west-northwest at 15 mph, the center said.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mighty-hurricane-irma-makes-first-landfall/

[SergeStorms]

1. Maximum sustained winds over 185 mph.

That's a storm that will cause catastrophic damage to anyone or anything in it's path. They call storms of this magnitude "the hand of god". Being a secular humanist, I find that meaningful in a figurative sense. I sure as hell wouldn't want to be in Irma's cross hairs.

To any DU members who may be in the storm's roundhouse, get the heck out of the way. Go somewhere safe, if you're able. It will be weeks or months before services are restored to anything near "normal". Please, stay safe. Stay alive. We can't afford to lose a single Democrat.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Still no contact with Barbuda after it went right over them

The BBC just interviewed a radio reporter on Antigua; he said things aren't too bad on Antigua (structural damage, but not talking about injuries or lives lost), but they - which I think means anyone - have not yet been able to talk to anyone on Barbuda.

[FLPanhandle]

3. A few webcams from the islands

St. Barth

ost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands

[bathroommonkey76]

4. The St-Barth webcam looks like an old super-8 film from the 50s. n/t

[Sunlei]

5. Thanks for the live webcam links. Those poor trees have no others to lean on!

Only thing that saved my trees from snapping off or toppling in 120mph hurricane- were the trees to lean on right next to them.

I can't imagine 185 winds, everything blows away-even the sands the entire beach.

[Sunlei]

6. here's webcam LIVE Mallory Square - Key West FL . looks like a beautiful day so far