It’s looking more likely that Hurricane Irma will affect the U.S. coast - WARNING

Irma from space

                    

As Major Hurricane Irma churns across the northern Caribbean and towards the United States, residents along the Gulf and East coasts of the U.S. need to be on alert.

It’s looking more likely that Hurricane Irma will affect the U.S. coast — potentially making a direct landfall — starting Friday. The powerful storm strengthened slightly overnight, and as of Monday morning was a powerful Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. As it tracks west toward the Caribbean, hurricane warnings have been issued for portions of the Leeward Islands and hurricane watches are in place for Puerto Rico.