NOAA and US Air Force indicate Hurricane Irma strengthening with sustained winds of 175 MPH

Reports from NOAA and US Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that Hurricane Irma continues to strengthen and maximum sustained winds have increased to near 175 mph (280 km/h) with higher gusts.  Irma is now an extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days.
 
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, at 8:00 am on Tuesday the distinct eye center of Hurricane Irma was located about 270 miles (440 km) east of Antigua, moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h). This general motion is expected to continue on Tuesday, followed by a turn toward the west-northwest on Tuesday night.
 
On the forecast track, the dangerous core of Irma will move near or over portions of the northern Leeward Islands on Tuesday night and early Wednesday.    Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the Centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km).