'Storm Wider Than The State' Bearing Down On Florida

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Florida’s governor warns of a massive storm approaching the state, with winds of 150mph or greater, that is expected “to cause major and life-threatening impact from coast to coast.”

As Floridians prepare to evacuate from the path of Hurricane Irma and its destructive power that has devastated small Caribbean islands, Governor Rick Scott warns that the storm “is wider than our entire state.”

Hurricane #Irma now a category 5 and it’s a beast. It’s larger than the state of Ohio, if that helps put it in perspective. pic.twitter.com/JtoZNlONeE

— ⚡JD Rudd – News5 (@jdrudd) September 5, 2017

The Express reports:

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Florida has declared a state of emergency and evacuations have been ordered for residents in coastal cities.

Mr Scott warned: “This thing is bigger than our entire state right now.”

Florida is more than 170,000 km² in size and is home to 20million people.

It is the second largest state in the US and extends 581km (361miles) wide and is around 719km (447miles) long.

Mr Scott said: “Look at the size of this storm: it’s huge.

“It’s wider than our entire state and could cause major and life-threatening impact on both coasts.

Hurricane Irma is currently over the Caribbean, having caused carnage on the islands of St Martin and Anguilla as it moves towards the US.

If Irma continues on its current path it will reach the Turks and Caicos and south-eastern Bahamas by this evening and will carry on in this general direction, towards Miami, Florida, over the next few days.

Mr Scott continued: “This storm is powerful and deadly. Every Floridian, every family should take this very seriously and be aggressive.

“Just because models show it going along the East coast, the West coast will still have hurricane conditions, and these storms can move and change.

“Irma has already cause multiple fatalities. This storm is powerful and deadly.”

Hurricane Irma is considered to be the strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane ever recorded.

Irma has wreaked havoc across the small islands St Martin, Anguilla and Barbuda killing at least nine people.

The latest tracking map shows Hurricane Irma set to hit Florida around 2am on Sunday morning – although some suggest it may hit slightly later in Orlando at 2am on Monday with wind speeds of 130mph.