As Hurricane Harvey final moves off the Texan coast leaving behind damage of up to 180 billion US dollar, the next tropical storm seems poised to arrive. U.S. weather experts predict a 55 to 60 percent chance that Hurricane Irma will make landfall between Florida and the East Coast this coming weekend, after having swept across the Lesser Antilles, and Puerto Rico.
Classed as a Category 5 hurricane, Irma threatens to be even more devastating than Harvey, which was Category 4 at its peak. The difference between the two on the Saffir-Simson Scale is wind speeds greater than 157 miles per hour (252 km/h or higher) opposed to 130-156 miles per hour (209-251 km/h). According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Irma could cause a sea level rise of three meters, heavy rains and huge destructive waves. Rick Scott, Governor of Florida, has declared a state of emergency.
The Atlantic hurricane season is in full swing. Harvey was the first major hurricane to make landfall since Wilma in 2005. The physical destruction caused is readily apparent: an estimated 40,000 homes were destroyed, roads flooded, and life interrupted for everyone in the greater Houston area.