AS PEOPLE IN the northern Caribbean were last night bracing for the impact of Hurricane Irma, Barbadians were also keeping an eye on the weather system, even as residual effects were being felt at home.
According to the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC), at 8 p.m. Hurricane Irma was a powerful Category 5 system with maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour or 295km/h. Hurricane force winds extended 60 miles (95km) from the centre and tropical storm force winds up to 175 miles or 280 km.
At home, red flags flew along normally calm beaches such as Brandons and Pebbles in St Michael. They told the tale of dangerous high swells from the monster hurricane’s passing.
“It is because of Irma that the waves are so huge,” said a lifeguard at Browne’s Beach, also in St Michael. “From speaking to my other comrades, all the other beaches in the north to South Point are like this.” (SAT/SB/KB)
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