The National Hurricane Center has issued its first advisory for newly formed Tropical Storm Irma which presently has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
At 9 a.m. CST, the center of Tropical Storm Irma was located near latitude 16.4 North, longitude 30.3 West or roughly 420 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands.
Irma is moving toward the west near 13 mph (20 km/h) and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days.
Satellite wind data indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Irma could become a hurricane on Friday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 mb (29.65 inches).
There are presented no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
The next advisory will be issued at at 3 p.m. CST.
This post will continue to be updated until the next advisory is issued.
