Hurricane Irma is making landfall in the Florida Keys.
The Category 4 storm blew ashore at Cudjoe Key this morning with maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour. Wind gusts as high as 160 miles per hour have been reported.
The massive storm's outer bands are reaching as far as northern Florida. More than a half-million people have had their power knocked out, mostly in Miami-Dade County and Palm Beach County just north of that.
In Miami, palm trees are bending from Irma's howling winds and low level areas are getting flooded. Still, despite the powerful winds there, Miami may escape the worst Irma has to offer. The storm is expected to go north later in the day and rake Florida's west coast. That includes the cities of Naples, Fort Myers, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa. Tampa hasn't had a direct hit from a hurricane in decades, and millions of people live there.
Perhaps the most frightening concern from Irma is storm surge. It's predicted to be anywhere from five to 15 feet in some areas.
Florida Governor Rick Scott spoke frankly about the anticipated storm surge along the state's Gulf Coast. He said it has the potential to completely cover houses.
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