Irma should be a major hurricane again on Sunday. Where is it going?

Hurricane Irma is still a Category 2 storm, the National Hurricane Center reports, but it should be a major hurricane again on Sunday according to their latest forecast, and it still appears to be moving ominously towards the U.S. if its current predicted track holds.

Tropical weather track

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Source: National Hurricane Center

Irma is currently located about 1,000 miles east of the Leeward Islands, and is moving west at 15 mph. It has maximum sustained winds of 110 mph with gusts up to 132 mph.

While Irma has remained in a somewhat weakened state over the past day or so, it is expected to pick up more steam even after it achieves Category 3 status tomorrow, and should be a Category 4 storm by Wednesday, with sustained winds of 132 mph and gusts over 160.

As bad as that prediction sounds, it may be conservative. According to the NHC’s 5 p.m. update on Saturday, Irma may grow “significantly stronger” than currently expected if wind shear is lower than expected as it moves over warmer water within the next few days.

The NHC track for Irma looks only five days out, but there are other, more speculative forecast models.

No coastal watches or warnings have yet been issued for Irma. Watches and warnings are typically issued 36 hours before a tropical cyclone poses a threat to a coastal area. So, as alarming as some of the information coming in might be, people can take solace in the knowledge that they will have plenty of warning if Irma looks to threaten the U.S. coast.

“It’s still 2,000 miles away, and anything over the Atlantic Ocean moving generally westward, by geographical definition, would be ‘aiming in the general direction of the United States,’” said NHC spokesman Dennis Feltgen. “It is far to early to tell what, if any, impacts will be felt on the continental U.S.”

Feltgen also said that Irma is a useful reminder that we are in the peak of hurricane season, and that as such, people in hurricane prone areas should be prepared, just in case.

“Check your supplies and make sure you have a hurricane plan,” said Feltgen. “The last thing you want is to be doing this on the fly if you happen to be in an area where hurricane watches or warnings go up. Not that we expect that to happen any time soon, but use this weekend, when stores are open and everyone has supplies, to take advantage of that.”

If you aren’t sure what you should do to get ready, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service in Charleston have joined forces to create a hurricane guide with information on preparedness and hurricane science.

This story was originally published September 2, 2017 at 10:03 AM with the headline "Irma should be a major hurricane again on Sunday. Where is it going?."