Hurricane Irma (2017)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

August 30, 2017 to September 13, 2017

Peak strength

Category 5, 155 kt (178 mph)

Lowest pressure

914 mb (26.99 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

64.9

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

360 nmi (667 km, 414 mi) from the center at its widest

Hurricane-force wind reached

70 nmi (130 km, 81 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

15 nmi (28 km, 17 mi)

Overall size

350 nmi (648 km, 403 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

195 kt (224 mph)

Fastest the center moved

16 kt (18 mph)

Identifier

AL112017

Radar at KBYX as it neared land, Sep 10, 13:00 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled May 2026.

Deaths

80 (9 direct, 71 indirect)

Injuries

49

Property damage

$4.8 billion

Crop damage

$655 million

Events recorded

458 in 29 reports from 10 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

230 tropical storm, 48 flash flood, 27 tornado, 26 high wind, 24 hurricane (typhoon), 22 flood, 22 storm surge/tide, 19 strong wind, 18 marine tropical storm, 14 tropical depression, 3 thunderstorm wind, 3 marine hurricane/typhoon, 1 lightning, 1 coastal flood.

27 tornadoes recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The Weather Prediction Center attributes 6,138 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 21.66 inches (550 mm).

WPC’s storm rainfall file, 1900 to 2020, compiled by David Roth.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

Multiple mesonet stations along with satellite and radar velocity data support hurricane force sustained winds between 75 to 100 knots in Gulf waters with frequent higher wind gust.

Chokoloskee To Bonita Beach Fl Out 20nm, Gulf of Mexico · Marine Hurricane/Typhoon · Sep 9, 05:00 UTC

Hurricane Irma moved north near and parallel to the Florida west coast from the afternoon of September 10 through the morning of September 11. The large wind field of the hurricane brought a long duration of sustained tropical storm winds to the offshore waters with frequent gusts to hurricane force, especially within squalls. NOAA buoy 41009, located 20 miles east of Port Canaveral measured a maximum sustained wind of 49 knots with a peak gust to 66 knots at 2150LST on September 10. Seas reached 20 to 25 feet.

Volusia-Brevard County Line To Sebastian Inlet 0-20nm, Atlantic South · Marine Tropical Storm · Sep 10, 18:00 UTC

Category 3 Hurricane Irma made landfall near Naples during the late afternoon of September 10. Irma then moved northward across west-central Florida during the evening while weakening to a Category 2 hurricane approximately 100 miles west of Stuart. A long duration of damaging winds occurred across Martin County, with a period of gusts to minimal hurricane force. The highest measured sustained wind was recorded by a WeatherFlow site at Jensen Beach (55 mph from the southeast at 1845LST on September 10) and the highest measured peak gust was 75 mph at 1655LST. A preliminary damage assessment from the county listed 180 affected structures, with an additional 192 with minor damage, 8 with major damage and 1 destroyed. The total estimated damage cost was $4.3 million. Damage generally involved roof shingles/tiles, soffits, awnings, and pool enclosures. Many trees were uprooted or snapped.

Martin, Florida · Tropical Storm · Sep 10, 19:00 UTC

Hurricane Irma moved north near and parallel to the Florida west coast from the afternoon of September 10 through the morning of September 11. The large wind field of the hurricane brought a long duration of sustained tropical storm winds to the offshore waters with frequent gusts to hurricane force, especially within squalls. A Scripps buoy just east of Port Canaveral measured seas up to 17 feet and NOAA buoy 41009 located 20 miles offshore Port Canaveral measured seas of 20 to 25 feet. Similar seas likely occurred across the waters farther offshore the Volusia County coast.

Flagler Beach To Volusia-Brevard County Line 20-60nm, Atlantic South · Marine Tropical Storm · Sep 10, 19:00 UTC

Rainbands associated with Hurricane Irma produced rainfall totals between 7 and 18 inches, resulting in areas of urban and poor drainage flooding. Numerous roadways were impacted by significant levels of standing water and many retention ponds reached capacity or overflowed. The highest rain totals occurred over the northern portion of the county, however the most significant impacts occurred within Orlo Vista. Heavy rain and associated run-off caused Lake Venus and two adjacent retention ponds to gradually overflow, flooding several hundred homes within the surrounding community. Over 200 residents were rescued by National Guard and Orange County Fire Rescue personnel as rising water began to enter their homes during the early morning hours of September 11. Two-to-three feet of water reportedly breached some homes adjacent to the lake and ponds. This area in a 10-year floodplain.

Orange, Florida · Flood · Sep 11, 02:00 UTC

A National Weather Service storm survey team toured portions of Edisto Island beach and confirmed significant storm surge caused flooding, damage to homes, and beach erosion. The entire dune line along the beach was breached and washed away resulting in up to a foot of sand being deposited onto Palmetto Boulevard. During the event one person attempted to evacuate the area in a vehicle, became stranded in sand and water on Palmetto Boulevard, and required rescue. Numerous homes sustained damage from storm surge related inundation and wave action battering the structures. Inundation was estimated to be as high as 6 feet above ground level, which was confirmed by the USGS Storm Tide Sensor Network. One such sensor measured 6.2 feet of inundation above ground level on the back side of Edisto Island along Big Bay Creek near Buoy Road.

Southern Colleton, South Carolina · Storm Surge/Tide · Sep 11, 14:00 UTC

The DeKalb County Emergency Manager reported hundreds of trees and many power lines blown down across the county. Two hundred sixty seven homes and businesses were damaged, mainly by falling trees and large limbs, with 65 of them reported destroyed or sustaining major damage. Over 200 roads were blocked by downed trees, power lines and other debris with over 106 tons of debris cleared. Estimates are that over half of all customers lost electricity in the county for varying periods of time. A wind gust of 47 mph was measured at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport and a gust of 72 mph was measured on top of Stone Mountain, around 800 feet above the surrounding terrain. Radar estimated between 3 and 6.5 inches of rain fell across the county with 6.32 inches measured in Decatur. One firefighter received minor injuries while clearing debris. Around $11 million in insured losses were reported.

De Kalb, Georgia · Tropical Storm · Sep 11, 17:00 UTC

Winds from the remnants of Irma caused numerous trees to fall across Watauga County, especially in areas around Foscoe, Blowing Rock, Vilas, and Boone, NC. A peak wind gust was measured at 58 MPH near Silverstone during the pre-dawn hours. As a result, thousands were left without power across the county, and numerous roads were temporarily closed due to the downed trees.

Watauga, North Carolina · High Wind · Sep 11, 20:38 UTC

The Dawson County Emergency Manager reported hundreds of trees blown down across the county as well as numerous power lines. Not counting trees on private property, 304 trees were removed from county road right of ways alone. During the storm, at least 30 roads were completely blocked by downed trees and power lines. Fifty six homes reported damage, 5 with major damage and 1 destroyed. Three commercial buildings had damage, 2 minor and 1 major, and Fire Station 1 suffered wind damage to an exterior door and exterior roofing trim. Over 7000 customers were without power, about 70% of the county. Landline phones and cellular service were out in certain parts of the county for over a week. Radar estimated between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain fell across the county with 2.37 inches measured near Dawsonville. No injuries were reported.

Dawson, Georgia · Tropical Storm · Sep 11, 21:00 UTC

A National Weather Service storm survey team confirmed an EF1 tornado in Legare Farms on Johns Island. The tornado touched down along the west bank of the Stono River near the junction of Abbapoola Creek. The tornado initially traveled north-northwest near the Stono River, destroying a shed, snapping a large live oak tree at the trunk, and damaging several other trees. In this area, the tornado also pulled from the ground a well pump and cement anchors for a chain link fence. The tornado then knocked a home off pilings, and the displaced residence incurred significant roof damage and crushed a pickup truck which was parked under the damaged house. The tornado then turned toward the north and northeast, damaging multiple trees before lifting along the west bank of the Stono River.

Charleston, South Carolina · Tornado · Sep 11, 21:45 UTC

Multiple trees and tree limbs were knocked down causing power outages. One large tree was knocked down onto the roadway at 1848 Mount Olive Drive. Another tree was knocked down at the 4300 block of Pleasant Grove Road.

Marshall, Alabama · High Wind · Sep 11, 22:00 UTC

Winds from the remnants of Irma caused several trees to fall across Wilkes County, resulting in temporary road closures along Congo Road, Absher Road, Country Club Road, Speedway Road, and John P Frank Parkway.

Wilkes, North Carolina · Strong Wind · Sep 12, 09:45 UTC

At 546 PM EST, an amateur radio operator reported two trees down on Belden Street in the Upham's Corner section of Boston. Also, two trees were down on Hamlet Street including one down on three cars. A tree was down on Willis Street. A tree was down on wires on Taft Street.

Suffolk, Massachusetts · Thunderstorm Wind · Sep 14, 22:46 UTC

At 455 PM EST, an amateur radio operator reported Chickering Road at State Route 114 in South Lawrence was flooded. A car nearby on Halsey Street was trapped in flood waters. At 524 PM EST a car was disabled in street flooding at Cutler Avenue and Chickering Road. Grafton Street was flooded and impassable.

Essex, Massachusetts · Flood · Sep 15, 21:55 UTC

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A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Best track as KMZ, National Hurricane Center
• Best track as a shapefile, National Hurricane Center
• Wikipedia article: Hurricane Irma