Hurricane Irma: Category 5, winds strengthening to 180 mph

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Hurricane Irma is now a Category 5, continuing to strengthen with wind now at 180 mph as it heads west through the Atlantic at 14 mph.

Wednesday the storm is expected to be near Puerto Rico and by Friday it will be near Cuba.

The storm is then expected to make a quick turn to the north early Sunday morning, but it is still unknown at this time what that track will look like.

Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh said the last Category 5 over the Atlantic Basin was Hurricane Matthew last year when it hit Haiti as a Catgeory 4 storm, then headed east to Florida and along our local coastline as a Category 3 storm.

The government of the Dominican Republic has issued a Hurricane Watch from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti and a Tropical Storm watch from south of Cabo Engao to Isla Saona.

Emergency officials are warning that Irma could dump up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain, unleash landslides and dangerous flash floods and generate waves of up to 23 feet (7 meters) as the storm draws closer.

One should always be prepared throughout the hurricane season with your hurricane supply kit.

Read more with Talking Tropics with Mike Buresh.

Cox Media Group