Hurricane Irma Shifts Toward Orlando

ORLANDO, FL — Forecasters are warning that Hurricane Irma, while it was downgraded to a Category 1 storm, is still producing "exceptional hurricane-force wind gusts" in Central Florida and could reach Orlando.

The hurricane took an eastward turn from the gulf coast of Central Florida at 2 a.m. Monday, just west of Lakeland, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

According to the Sentinel, the National Hurricane Center said Irma is expected to remain on land and will likely downgrade below hurricane intensity. Lake County and Orlando may see 80 to 100 mph gusts, the National Weather Service in Melbourne said, according to the Sentinel.

Watch: Hurricane Irma Weakens To A Tropical Storm, But It's Still Dangerous

See also:

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• Tampa Enacts Curfew As Irma Nears
• St. Pete Enacts Curfew As Irma Nears
• Sunshine Skyway Closes Ahead Of Irma
• Tampa Enacts Curfew As Irma Nears
• Hurricane Irma: Is It The Disaster Experts Fear For Tampa Bay?
• Pinellas Expands Mandatory Evacuations Ahead Of Irma
• Hurricane Irma: Ports In Tampa, St. Pete, Manatee Closed
• Hillsborough County Issues Mandatory Evacuation Ahead Of Irma
• Hurricane Irma: Sleepless In Tampa Bay
• Pasco County Issues Mandatory Evacuation Ahead Of Irma
• Polk County Issues Mandatory Evacuation Ahead Of Irma
• Hurricane Irma Power Outages: How To Report In Tampa Bay
• Tampa, MacDill Issue Mandatory Evacuations Ahead Of Irma
• St. Pete Sandbag Supply Runs Out Ahead Of Hurricane Irma

Article image via NASA Facebook page