Irma slams through Florida, heads toward populous Tampa area
MIAMI — A monster Hurricane Irma roared into Florida with 130 mph winds Sunday for what could be a sustained assault on nearly the entire Sunshine State, submerging streets, knocking out power to millions and snapping huge construction cranes over the Miami skyline.
The 400-mile-wide storm blew ashore in the morning in the mostly cleared-out Florida Keys and then began a slow march up the state’s west coast. Forecasters said it could hit the heavily populated Tampa-St. Petersburg area early Monday.
Irma struck as a Category 4 but by late afternoon had weakened to a Category 2, with 110 mph winds that whipped Florida’s palm trees with drenching squalls.