Will Hurricane Irma Reach New Hampshire?

Hurricane Irma is barreling through the Caribbean toward Florida, where it is threatening to land as another devastating storm. New Hampshire just got drenched after Harvey moved off Texas, but what danger does Irma pose to the Granite State, if any? It may seem like a silly question, but this is the most powerful Atlantic storm ever recorded we're talking about.

Some recent forecasts show that while all immediate focus and preparation should be on the southeastern part of the country, Irma's rainy impact could make its way to New England mid-late next week. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Hampton-North Hampton NH Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

The National Hurricane Center said it's impossible to say where, if anywhere, the powerful storm could strike the U.S., but forecasters are warning everyone in coastal areas to be prepared.

Irma isn't expected to be as slow-moving as Harvey was. In one scenario, Irma hits Florida Sunday, then would likely head north, according to AccuWeather. On that course, by about Tuesday Irma should be north of Kentucky, and by Wednesday we could see some of what Irma has left in New England. It would pass through Massachusetts and New Hampshire by Thursday morning, according to AccuWeather. (Subscribe to your local Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

"The forecast has been changing every day so, any impacts in New England are something that continues to bear close watching," NBC Boston meteorologist Aaron Perry told Patch. "At this time, expecting Hurricane Irma to dissipate over the Carolinas by the middle of next week before an upper-level trough helps usher the remnants of the system offshore."

Still a Category 5 storm, Irma has been blamed for at least 10 deaths so far. Residents across Florida continued preparations for the storm that is expected to arrive in the state during the early morning hours Sunday. "This thing is bigger than our entire state," Florida Gov. Rick Scott warned during a press conference on Thursday.

Watch: Hurricane Irma Pummels The Caribbean; Florida Could Be Next

AccuWeather said the storm could take a sharp turn to the north and head toward Georgia, North Carolina or even farther north. That is just one of three potential paths the storm could take.

If it takes a more southern route — which forecasters think is the more likely scenario — south Florida would start to be buffeted by Irma's rain and wind as early as this weekend. If the storm tracks more to the south and west, the Florida Panhandle would be in danger of a direct strike early next week, AccuWeather says.

There is still a scenario where Irma curves north and misses the East Coast entirely. This would still generate large surf and rip currents along the East Coast, though it's the most unlikely of scenarios, AccuWeather says.

Although Irma's path shifted east somewhat, the storm was still following a path that may have dire implications for Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas in the coming days.

Hurricane warnings were up for the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands Thursday morning. A hurricane watch was in place for portions of Cuba. The first hurricane watches had also gone up for the Florida Peninsula from Jupiter Inlet to Bonita Beach, the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee and Florida Bay. Storm surge watches were also in place for Jupiter Inlet to Bonita Beach and the Florida Keys. Warnings mean hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area. Watches mean conditions are possible.

Irma formed during the peak of the 2017 hurricane season. Forecasters call the period between mid-August and mid-October the “season within the season.” This eight-week period “is often the most active and dangerous time for tropical cyclone activity,” according to NOAA.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 each year. Average seasons produce about 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes. Three of the hurricanes are generally deemed major.
Residents readying for the ongoing season can get tips and advice on the federal government’s Ready.gov website.

Patch's Sherri Lonon and Adam Nichols contributed to this report.

Graphics courtesy of the National Hurricane Center