Hurricane now ‘extremely dangerous’ category 5

The National Hurricane Center based in the United States, at 8 o clock this morning, announced that Hurricane Irma has become an ‘extremely dangerous’ category 5 hurricane.

It added that preparations ‘should be rushed to completion’ in the hurricane warning area.

A hurricane warning has been in effect in the British Virgin Islands and several other countries in the Caribbean since late last night.

A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, which are conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

The National Hurricane Centre added that, at 8 o’ clock, Hurricane Irma had maximum sustained winds of 175 miles per hour.

It was located near longitude 57.7 degrees west and latitude 16.7 degrees north.

More information shortly.