Fueling the Storm
Warm oceans can intensify hurricanes, which
scientists believe thrive when sea surface tem
peratures are above 82 degrees Fahrenheit. As
Hurricane Irma approaches the United States,
warmer waters will provide more energy to fuel
the storm.
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
Category 5
(157 mph winds or higher)
Category 4
(130-156 mph winds)
Sea surface temperature on Sept. 7, 2017
(Fahrenheit)
76.6
87.4
82.0
United
States
As of Sept. 8, 2017, there is about
a 66 percent chance Hurricane
Irma will move through this area
by Sept. 13, 2017.
FLA.
Atlantic
Ocean
Bahamas
Sept. 7, 2017
Cuba
Haiti
Dom.
Rep.
Jamaica
Puerto
Rico
(U.S.)
Caribbean Sea
Virgin
Islands
(U.S.)
Fueling the Storm
Warm oceans can intensify hurricanes, which scientists believe thrive when sea surface
temperatures are above 82 degrees Fahrenheit. As Hurricane Irma approaches the
United States, warmer waters will provide more energy to fuel the storm.
United
States
Tennessee
North
Carolina
Ala.
S.C.
Miss.
Georgia
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane
Wind Scale
Category 5
(157 mph winds or higher)
Atlantic
Ocean
Category 4
(130-156 mph winds)
As of Sept. 8, 2017, there
is about a 66 percent
chance Hurricane Irma
will move through this
area by Sept. 13, 2017.
Florida
Sea surface temperature
on Sept. 7, 2017
(Fahrenheit)
Gulf of Mexico
Bahamas
76.6
82.0
87.4
Sept. 7, 2017
Cuba
Mexico
Haiti
Dom.
Rep.
Jamaica
Puerto
Rico
(U.S.)
Virgin
Islands
(U.S.)
Caribbean Sea
LAUREN C. TIERNEY, NG STAFF
SOURCES: NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER; NOAA
Like Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Irma lost strength as it lashed the Caribbean—but could regain its force before reaching Florida. Andrew weakened before making landfall in the Bahamas but then rapidly regained Category 5 status before it struck just south of Homestead, Florida.
This map shows where Irma will pass through warmer waters before making landfall. Warm water fuels the updrafts that lower barometric pressure inside the storm, creating stronger winds.