Compiled by Joe Kleiman, InPark News Editor
PREVIOUS UPDATE 9/9 8:00 pm EDT
Irma is currently leaving the lower Florida Keys, moving NNW at 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.
Current conditions from WeatherSTEM: Virginia Key (Miami Seaquarium, Frost Science, Jungle Island) – wind ESE 74 mph, gusts to 85 mph, 31.01 in rain in last 24 hours; University of Miami (Zoo Miami) – wind 44 mph, gusts to 60 mph, 2.14 in rain in last 24 hours; National Weather Service issued a storm surge advisory for Miami area at 5:29 am EDT with a predicted surge of 3-5 feet above normal sea levels. Naples Botanical Garden (Naples Zoo) – wind ENE 12 mph, gusts to 42 mph, 4.26 in rain in last 24 hours. The eye is expected to resume landfall in the vicinity of Naples, on the state’s Southwest coast.
Current conditions from both the National Weather Service and WeatherSTEM for Key West and Marathon (Florida Keys) are unavailable. Storm warning for Key West from the National Weather Service as of 8:22 am EDT: Category 3 force winds 100-120 mph with gusts to 140 mph, 4-8 inches rain, storm surge of 5-10 feet.
Key West, Miami, Ft Lauderdale, St Petersberg-Clearwater, Orlando, Tampa, and Palm Beach airports are all closed. Amtrak has suspended all service in Florida.
FLORIDA ATTRACTIONS:
All theme parks, museums, zoos, and attractions in the state from St. Augustine south are either currently closed or will close this evening and remain closed through Monday at the earliest. IAAPA’s global headquarters in Orlando will be closed on Monday.
Hotels at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and LEGOLAND Florida Resort will remain open through the storm, but are only servicing existing guests and are not accepting new arrivals.
Florida attractions are expected to reopen as early as Tuesday, but that may change as they continue to monitor the situation and make changes accordingly.
NEXT UPDATE: 9/10 at 6:00 pm EDT
