Hurricane Irma strengthens to a Category 4 storm, prompts states of emergency in Florida, Puerto Rico

Hurricane Irma heads toward Florida
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/WPTV News)

Hurricane Irma strengthened to a Category 4 storm on Monday evening, with maximum sustained winds near 150 miles per hour early Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said. Irma is centered about 320 miles east of the Leeward Islands, and is expected to make landfall on the island of Anguilla early Wednesday. The hurricane is projected to hit Florida on Sunday, though its path is unpredictable. Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has declared a preparatory state of emergency in all 67 counties. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have also declared states of emergency, and Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló has activated the National Guard and canceled school starting Tuesday.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.