Hurricane Irma: Florida Braces For Storm Arrival
Water levels are already rising on the coast of the US state where a huge storm surge is expected.
Some 6.3 million people had been told to evacuate, but the state governor said on Saturday it was now too late to leave for anyone remaining.
At least 24 people have died after Irma earlier hit several Caribbean islands.
With maximum sustained winds of 120mph (193km/h), Irma hurricane has now weakened to a category three hurricane after making landfall in Cuba’s north-east late on Friday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) says in its latest advisory at 03:00 GMT on Sunday.
But Irma is expected to strengthen and will remain a powerful hurricane as it approaches Florida, the NHC says.
It warns that a “life-threatening storm surge” is expected in the Florida Keys – a chain of small islands in Florida’s south – and also the west coast of Florida.
Irma is predicted to hit the coast on Sunday morning, but the outer bands are already affecting the south of the state and central Miami is being lashed by heavy rain.
The Florida Keys have suffered some minor damage and are expected to bear the brunt of the storm in the coming hours.
The head of emergencies agency Fema, Brock Long, told CNN there were “no safe areas within the Keys”.
“You put your life in your own hands by not evacuating,” he added.