Hurricane Irma: Caribbean islands brace for powerful storm

Hurricane Irma has been upgraded to a powerful category four as warnings have been issued for several Caribbean islands in preparation for the storm.The hurricane has sustained winds of up to 215 km/h (130 mph) and is likely to strengthen in the next 48 hours, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Irma is projected to hit the Leeward Islands, causing storm surges, life-threatening winds and torrential rain.The US state of Florida has declared a state of emergency.

It comes as residents in Texas and Louisiana are reeling from the effects of Hurricane Harvey, which struck as a category four storm, causing heavy rain and destroying thousands of homes.However the NHC warned that it was too early to forecast Irma’s exact path or effects on the continental US…

Source: Hurricane Irma: Caribbean islands brace for powerful storm – BBC News