United States

Irma Remains a Category 3; Watches Issued for Caribbean

Powerful hurricane turns westward, still far out in Atlantic

In what has become the fastest growing storm in over a decade and a half, Hurricane Irma regained strength Sunday and was upgraded back to a Category 3 hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center's 8 a.m. advisory had Irma with winds of 120 miles per hour, moving west southwest at 14 mph.

The hurricane is about 625 miles to the east of the Leeward Islands, prompting the issuing of Hurricane Watches.

090417 Hurricane Irma 11pm Advisory

A Hurricane Watch has been issued for islands of Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba, St. Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy.

Irma is still days away from being in the radar of the United States, but is expected to close in on the northern Leeward Islands by Tuesday.

NHC officials expect Hurricane Irma to continue its westward shift Sunday. There will continue to be fluctuations in strength but Irma is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through the weekend and into the week.

Most predictions have the storm not hitting any land, but residents are being told to keep an eye out for updates in the coming days.

Irma will be a growing concern for the Lesser Antilles over the next week with the rest of the Caribbean and southeastern United States keeping a close eye on this storm.

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