When its maximum sustained winds hit 185 miles per hour on Tuesday, Hurricane Irma became one of the Atlantic Ocean's most intense storms on record.
The storm appears destined to target the U.S., with Florida at particular risk of seeing a landfall over the weekend, but not before the storm wreaks havoc from the Lesser Antilles to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, among other areas.
SEE ALSO:Hurricane Irma: This monster storm is perfect in the most alarming waysSatellites and "hurricane hunter" aircraft allowed for amazing images of this meteorological marvel. Here are some of the best ones we've found, which will be updated as the storm continues to develop.
Hurricane Irma with its eye completely encompassing the island of Barbuda on Sept. 6, 2017.Credit: university of wisconsin/cimmsTweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Typically, storms of such a high intensity form in the western Pacific Ocean, where the ocean heat content tends to support them. However, Hurricane Irma has found itself in an area of abundant ocean heat, as sea surface temperatures are unusually mild and the ocean near the Lesser Antilles is at or near its climatological peak for the year.
Unfortunately, the ocean waters ahead of the storm are even warmer, suggesting the potential for more intensification, depending on other factors.
Via GiphyTweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
As of Tuesday afternoon, the storm tied for second on the list of Atlantic hurricanes ranked by wind speed.
Hurricane Wilma in 2005 was the most recent Atlantic storm to be as strong as Irma, with maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour at its peak. The all-time record for strongest winds in an Atlantic hurricane is 190 miles per hour, measured in Hurricane Allen in 1980.
Hurricane Irma could yet tie or beat that remarkable record.
(责任编辑：時尚)
Singapore gets world's first driverless taxis
Why landing a NASA spaceship on the moon is still so challenging
What is digital domestic abuse?
How to use Amazon Lists to donate to people and organizations in needMom discovers security cameras hacked, kids' bedroom livestreamedDog elected for third term as mayor of Minnesota town
Hopefully he has a human chief of staff. 。Duke the Great Pyrenees is the only dog that's ever been el
...[详细]'Top Boy' Season 5 review: The powerful end this masterpiece of a series deserves
Well, we've come to the end.Over a decade since Top Boyfirst aired in the UK, and Dushane and Sully
...[详细]WWDC 2023: Apple WatchOS 10 is changing how we use our smart watches
We were right! The new WatchOS is hella focused on widgets.Apple introduced the newest version of it
...[详细]TikTok video shows person 'frozen in time'
TikTok user @unknown1575489 has posted just one video — and it has more than 5.5 million views
...[详细]You can now play 'Solitaire' and 'Tic
Google just added two new fun Easter eggs to its search results. 。You can now play 。 Solitaire 。and 。 Ti
...[详细]'The Witcher' Season 3 makes a brazen reference to 'Carrie'
If you predicted a reference to Stephen King's Carriein The Witcher Season 3, you must have Ciri's p
...[详细]BMW unveils radically different 'Neue Klasse' electric concept car
BMW is not a company that shies away from bold, progressive design. Case in point: the company's new
...[详细]Zoom is making its workers return to the office
Zoom is demanding its employees return to the office. It seems not even the popular video-conferenci
...[详细]Researchers create temporary tattoos you can use to control your devices
In the future, your tattoos could be much more than just ink designs. 。Scientists have created a new
...[详细]'The Birdcage's tale of queer love and drag queens is as timely as ever
The Birdcagewas my introduction to drag. I was just a kid when my family and I serendipitously stumb
...[详细]WhatsApp announces plans to share user data with Facebook
Best air conditioner deals: Save on Black+Decker, Frigidaire, more
