Hurricane Irma terrifying path: Latest models show it WILL hit Miami as Category 5 storm

The killer hurricane, which has already claimed eight lives, has maintained wind speeds of 185mph for the past 33 hours, an unprecedented feat. 

The force of Irma is so strong it is being picked up on seismic instruments designed to measure earthquakes. 

Meteorologist Pat Cavlin indicated tracking models showed Irma would likely make landfall near Miami, and roll into town as a Category 5 storm, or possibly Category 4.

TV weatherman Kyle Hunter tweeted the same dire prediction: “WARNING: Latest forecast has #Irma hitting Miami, FL at Cat 4 or 5 on Sunday. 

“Cat 5 will cause absolute destruction most homes. Leave now.”

Upgraded to a category 5 storm before it made landfall in the Caribbean, a state of emergency was declared for Florida, which has now spread to neighbouring states Georgia and South Carolina. 

The message from officials is the same: get out of Florida. 

Florida governor Rick Scott said: “Every Floridian should take storm preparations seriously and be aggressive to protect their family.

“There is currently a mandatory evacuation order for all visitors in the FL Keys- this order will go into effect for all residents tonight.

“We can expect additional evacuations as this storm continues to near our state. EVERYONE must listen to your local officials.

“Please do not ignore evacuation orders. Remember, we can rebuild your home, not your life.

“Do not sit and wait for #HurricaneIrma to come. It is EXTREMELY dangerous & deadly – it will cause devastation. GET PREPARED NOW.”

Miami Beach mayor Philip Levine was direct in his plea to residents, calling Irma a “nuclear hurricane”.

He warned the residents of the trendy Miami Beach to abandon their homes and flee with their lives – while they still could. 

Mr Levine said: “This is a monster and we’re not taking any chances.

“At this point right now, the county has not issued an evacuation order.

“Tomorrow, the only evacuation order out there is for folks with special needs.

“What I have done is recommend to the residents and tourists of Miami Beach to leave the city.

“If you have a plan, get on that plan now and start moving towards out of the city.”

He called Irma an “incredibly serious storm”. 

Irma made landfall in islands in the Caribbean, smashing into Barbuda, St Martins / St Maartens and Antigua.

Flattening entire areas, Barbuda prime minister Gaston Browne said there was “absolute devastation” with 95 per cent of building damaged. 

And earlier in the week, before Irma hit, multiple tracking models predicted three likely routes, but as the storm progressed on its path it has become clear Florida will be hit. 

Hurricane Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen said. “South Florida and Central Florida will be impacted. 

“We’re confident with that right now. What we’re not confident with is exactly where that centre is going to go. But remember a hurricane is not a dot on the map. 

“They’re large storms that cover a large area.”

Irma will be the first to hit the sunshine state and cause serious damage since Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

That same year saw one of the most devastating hurricane to hit the US, Katrina, which tore apart New Orleans. 

It killed 1,800 people and is the costliest natural disaster, causing damage costing $1.8 billion.

The aftermath showed towns flooded, homes destroyed, and thousands of people homeless hunkering down in stadiums and other buildings, with it taking years to rebuild the city and peoples’ lives. 

Despite the deadly impact of Katrina, by the time it made landfall it was downgraded from a Cat 5 to a Cat 3, something Irma shows no sign on doing. 

And she comes on the heels of Hurricane Harvey, which reduced Houston to an underwater city, killing at least 70 people last month.