[nevergore]

Having been in the communications industry for 40 plus years as an engineer and senior executive, I can tell you that most towers and communications gear would not survive a direct hit from Irma.....if in the rare circumstance the tower survives the antenna gear won’t....

A lot of antennas in South Florida are on high rise roofs sitting on Sleds.....usually set for 120mph sustained winds unless dictated higher.... regardless.... roof failure will occur and these antenna systems will be comprised....

[caww]

Might be only satellite communication will be available if that happens and too any go down by Irma. My brother has such a phone as that which we had to use in the mountains because there was no signal otherwise there.

[foundedonpurpose]

Just look at the tower survival rate on the Islands that have been mowed in the last 3 days. Granted, all cat 5 winds, still.. Irma should be to cat 5 by the time it hits Florida, or darned close. Good by cell towers, I barely knew you, well only for the past 20yrs. or so.

[sarasota]

Did I hear that Florida power is going to cut power as it approaches the mainland as a category one? Did I hear that correctly?

[alancarp]

NHC official forecast raises Irma to Cat 5 intensity as it passes through the Keys on its way to a 'real' landfall either at Cape Sable or Everglades City... depending on how you define the "landfall" term.

From there, Naples, Cape Coral/Fort Myers, Port Charlotte, Tampa, and then Crystal River and Perry a day after first landfall.

NHC Forecast Advisory page. First cloudtops have reached the Keys and Miami.