Irma's size compared to Kansas

The strongest hurricane recorded in the Atlantic basin continues it's push toward the United States. It's amazing how long it's been able to maintain its category 5 strength, but the water is just so warm and there's nothing in the atmosphere to weaken it yet. 

How big is Irma?

Hurricane force winds (74 mph or stronger) have a diameter of about 100 miles. Tropical storm force winds are nearly 400 miles in diameter. Kansas measures about 400 miles from west to east, so Irma is comparable in size to our state. Of course the impacts will be much more widespread because dangerous flooding rains and surf extend MUCH farther out from the center of the storm.

What are the spaghetti models?

You may have been hearing reference to this either in our local news or from the national media. As their name suggests, each model laid out on a map look like pieces of spaghetti. But what you want to look for is how closely clustered together they are. And there are  When several of the spaghetti models line up with each other, confidence grows on where the storm will go. It certainly doesn't guarantee it.

How does Irma turn so sharply north?

There's going to be a low pressure system setting up in the deep South in the next few days, which will actually be strong enough to start pulling Irma north. Depending on when that turn happens will dictate how bad Florida gets hit. Right now, we think it may happen just southeast of Miami. The Florida Keys will likely get spared the worst of the storm.

Our weather pattern around Kansas is stuck in neutral right now, but coming up Friday morning, we will look at what will likely be an active and much cooler 2nd half of September. Please check back.