Photo: David Goldman/Associated PressOne of the most deadly features of the powerful hurricane bearing down on South Florida is the tremendous storm surge it can generate. The surge waves are made even higher when they travel across shallow coastal waters, said Robert Bohlin, a meteorologist with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu. Related Video Hurricane Irma has weakened slightly but still remains a "potentially catastrophic Category 5 storm" as it heads toward the U.S. mainland, according to the National Hurricane Center. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez cited a possible life-threatening storm surge when he expanded the evacuation zone Thursday, now affecting more 650,000 residents. “Downtown office buildings there are not designed for surge,” Mr. Bea said.

Source: Wall Street Journal September 08, 2017 04:07 UTC