Hurricane Irma completed a quick eyewall replacement cycle on Friday and it strengthened after the cycle ended.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Irma was located at latitude 18.8°N and longitude 39.1°W which put it about 1495 miles (2405 km) east of the Leeward Islands.  Irma was moving toward the west at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 964 mb.

Hurricane Irma is a small circular hurricane.  There is a small eye at the center of circulation. The eye is surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms.  Additional bands of showers and thunderstorms are revolving around the eye.  Winds to hurricane force only extend out about 25 miles (40 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force only extend out about 100 miles (160 km) from the center.  The thunderstorms around the center are generating well developed upper level divergence which is pumping mass away in all directions.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Irma is 22.1  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 7.6 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 29.7.

Hurricane Irma will move through an environment favorable for intensification.  Irma will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  The upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Irma is likely to intensify further, but there are also likely to be additional eyewall replacement cycles which will cause fluctuations in the intensity.

Hurricane Irma is located south of the subtropical high over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high is steering Irma toward the west.  The high is forecast to strengthen over the weekend and it is likely to steer Hurricane Irma more toward the west-southwest.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Irma could approach the Leeward Islands early next week.