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Hurricane Irma: Five Things We Know So Far

(CBS) -- Hurricane Irma continued on a path towards Southern Florida on Wednesday morning.

Here are five things we know about Irma:

1) It is a Category 5 hurricane, with winds of around 185 miles per hour. That makes it among the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic.

2) The storm made landfall in the island of Barbuda overnight. It blasted the Virgin Islands and then passed just northeast of Puerto Rico, striking a glancing blow.

Hurricane Irma
(Credit: CBS Miami)

3) The exact path toward Florida remains a bit uncertain but residents are preparing. An evacuation order has been issued for the Florida Keys and residents are being asked to leave by Thursday. Schools will be closed in Miami on Thursday and Friday.

4) According to CBS 4 meteorologist Craig Setzer in Miami, the impact on Florida will likely be determined by when Irma turns from heading west-northwest to nearly due north sometime between Saturday and Sunday. The sooner it makes that turn, the less likely it would make a direct impact on the Miami/South Florida region. However, the exact timing of that turn remains uncertain and south Florida and South Carolina are in the storm track.

Computer Models
(Credit: CBS Miami)

5) President Trump is keeping a close watch on Irma, and he said on Twitter that "my team .. is already in Florida."

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