lnsane Images Show Hurricane Irma As One Of Earth’s Most Intense Storms

Hurricane Irma sustained winds hit 185 miles per hour on Tuesday, The Hurricane became one of the Atlantic Ocean’s most powerful storms on record.

The storm looks destined to target the U.S., with Florida at distinct risk of seeing a landfall over the weekend, but not before the storm wreaks havoc from the Lesser Antilles to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, among other areas.

Satellites and “hurricane hunter” aircraft allowed for amazing images of this meteorological marvel. Here are some of the best ones we’ve found, which will be updated as the storm continues to develop.

The eye of #Irma stands out clearly on full-disk satellite imagery tonight. pic.twitter.com/svHbSfzteY

— Jeff Frame (@VORTEXJeff) September 6, 2017

The eye of a category 5 hurricane. #Irma #GOES16 pic.twitter.com/eATVZspJZx

— NASA SPoRT (@NASA_SPoRT) September 5, 2017

Watch as Hurricane #Irma moves toward the Leeward Islands in this #GOES16 geocolor loop. Get the latest on Irma @ https://t.co/cSGOfrM0lG pic.twitter.com/ixIhkXqVNa

— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) September 5, 2017

Mostly, storms of high-intensity form in the western Pacific Ocean, where the ocean heat content serves to support them. However, Hurricane Irma has found itself in an area of sufficient ocean heat, as sea surface temperatures are surprisingly mild and the ocean near the Lesser Antilles is at or near its climatological peak for the year.

Unfortunately, the ocean waters ahead of the storm are even warmer, suggesting the potential for more intensification, depending on other factors.

The gravity wave pattern emanating outward is astounding. Like someone dropping rocks into a pond. Hurricane #Irma #GOES16 pic.twitter.com/k4CphT0Wfz

— NASA SPoRT (@NASA_SPoRT) September 5, 2017

Inside the eye of #Irma on WP-3D Orion #NOAA42. This is referred to as the "stadium effect" https://t.co/iofV4p56DE Credit CDR Kibbey/NOAA. pic.twitter.com/dlUta2IbDL

— NOAAHurricaneHunters (@NOAA_HurrHunter) September 5, 2017

Hurricane Wilma in 2005 was the most recent Atlantic storm to be as powerful as Irma, with highest sustained winds of 185 miles per hour at its height. The all-time record for powerful winds in an Atlantic hurricane is 190 miles per hour, estimated in Hurricane Allen in 1980.

Hurricane Irma could yet match or beat that extraordinary record.