Irma Downgrades to Category 3; Fla. Gov. Urges Final Evacuation

Although Cat 3 is plenty dangerous, I'm praying that Irene doesn't strengthen.
  Keep praying!

NewsMax reports Florida Gov. Rick Scott Saturday morning had a dire warning for his state's residents sitting in the crosshairs of Hurricane Irma: "Once the storm starts, law enforcement cannot save you."

"If you've been ordered to evacuate, you need to leave now," the governor said Saturday, just before 10 a.m. "Do not wait. Evacuate. Not tonight, not in an hour. You need to go right now. If you're in an evacuation zone, leave."

According to the National Hurricane Center, the eye of powerful Hurricane Irma is expected to hit southwest Florida and Tampa sometime Sunday, but the entire state will feel the storm's effects.

Hurricane Center spokesman and meteorologist Dennis Feltgen said Saturday that while Miami won't get the core of Irma it will still get life-threatening hurricane conditions.

Forecasters adjusted the storm's potential track more toward the west coast of Florida Friday evening.

The Category 4 storm pounded Cuba early Saturday with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph). According to an 11 a.m. NHC report, Irma has weakened to a category 3 storm with 125 mph winds, but is expected to strengthen before hitting Florida.

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