Hurricane Irma made landfall over the Lower Florida Keys as a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with the eye crossing directly over Cudjoe Key.  Due to the large radius of hurricane-force winds, destructive hurricane-force winds and storm surge impacts all of the Florida Keys.  Extensive damage to residences, businesses, electric, water and communications utilities resulted.  The eye of Hurricane Irma moved ashore in the Lower Florida Keys over Cudjoe Key at 9:10 am EDT Sunday, September 10, with a minimum central pressure of 929 mb and maximum sustained winds near 115 knots (130 mph).  The highest sustained winds in the Lower Florida Keys were measured at 61 knots (70 mph) at the Key West Harbor, with a peak measured gusts at 120 mph at the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge and a private residence on Big Pine Key.  Storm survey evidence estimated the highest 3-second wind gusts on Big Pine Key and Scout Key, at 150 to 160 mph.  Maximum storm surge in the Lower Florida Keys was measured at 5 to 8 feet from Sugarloaf Key through Duck Keys, with total water height reaching a maximum of 5 to 6 feet above ground level in eastern Big Pine Key, and wave wash marks up to 20 feet above mean high water along Long Beach Road on the south side of Big Pine Key.  Rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches were measured at available rain gauges, with a maximum of 12.54 inches at the Key Deer Wildlife Refuge on Big Pine Key.  A total of 10 fatalities were attributed in the Florida Keys attributed to Irma, 4 directly related to hurricane impacts. More than 40 direct injuries were officially totaled across the entire Florida Keys.   More than 1300 vessels were damaged or destroyed, requiring removal from the coastal waters.  Additional information on number of residences and businesses damaged or destroyed is pending.  Financial damage estimates are also pending as costs related to business loss and community recovery are continuing to accrue.

Storm Surge/Tide in MONROE/LOWER KEYS, FLORIDA
From 09-SEP-17 23:00:00 to 10-SEP-17 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Storm surge estimates of 5 to 8 feet were evident from Upper Sugarloaf Key through Bahia Honda, Ohio and Missouri Keys. Storm surge values of 3 to 5 feet were observed from Key West through Lower Sugarloaf Key.  Total water heights of 5 to 6 feet above ground level were observed along the east side of Big Pine Key, with wave wash marks up to 20 feet above mean high water along Long Beach Road on the oceanside.  Major damage to mobile homes and marinas was observed along the oceanside especially from Ramrod Key, through Big Pine Key, through Ohio Key.  The eastbound lanes of U.S. Highway One were washed out just east of the Bahia Honda State Park entrance.  Many residences and businesses were flooded at the maximum surge, ranging from 2 feet in the lee of the islands to up to 6 feet between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm EST November 10th.

Hurricane (Typhoon) in MONROE/MIDDLE KEYS, FLORIDA
From 09-SEP-17 09:30:00 to 10-SEP-17 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane-force wind damage from Marathon and Key Colony Beach revealed significant roof covering loss and isolated roof truss damage on older design oceanfront homes.  Older retail stores and a strip mall displayed complete uplift and collapse of wood box truss structures, while modern design structures displayed significant sections of roof covering loss, including metal panel-over-wood sheathing and built-up tar/rubber coverings.  Some older service station canopies displayed column buckling whereas modern designs displayed only slight racking or minor fascia damage.  Significant roof panel damage to mobile homes over both older and modern design.  All traffic signal masts remained in place, however signals were blown up to 90 degrees out of alignment.  Peak wind gusts of 100 to 115 mph were attributed.  From Grassy Key through the City of Layton and Long Key, several sections of wall panel loss on metal building systems, damage to built-up and shingle roof coverings, vinyl siding, and plastic paneled signs were noted.  Peak wind gusts estimated at 90 to 100 mph were attributed.  Injuries estimated due to lack of operating hospitals or rescue services during the hurricane impact.

Hurricane (Typhoon) in MONROE/UPPER KEYS, FLORIDA
From 09-SEP-17 10:00:00 to 10-SEP-17 19:30:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane force wind damage was observed as follows:  Roof panels and vinyl siding were stripped from mobile homes, with vinyl siding damage on single family residences.  One service station canopy was completely overturned, without discernible deformities in the columns nor foundation.  Peak wind gusts were estimated at 90 to 100 mph.  In Tavernier, modern design large metal building systems exhibited failure of overhead doors on east and southeast-facing sides, with older designs including some pulled off exterior sheet panels.  Peak gusts near 100 mph were estimated.  From Key Largo through Ocean Reef, limited losses of built-up roof coverings and metal fascia from gas station canopies was observed.  Some older strip malls in Key Largo exhibited large losses of shingle and barrel tile coveraings.  Peak wind gusts near 90 mph were estimated.  Injuries are estimated due to no hospitals operating nor rescue services during the hurricane impact.

Storm Surge/Tide in MONROE/UPPER KEYS, FLORIDA
From 09-SEP-17 21:00:00 to 11-SEP-17 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Storm surge of 3 to 4 feet was observed throughout Islamorada through Ocean Reef, as well as along Barnes Sound near Manatee Bay.  Total water heights were generally 2 to 4 feet above ground level.  Flooding of oceanside residences and business up to 2 feet occurred.

Hurricane (Typhoon) in MONROE/LOWER KEYS, FLORIDA
From 09-SEP-17 10:15:00 to 10-SEP-17 16:30:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The eye of Hurricane Irma moved ashore in the Lower Florida Keys over Cudjoe Key at 9:10 am EDT Sunday, September 10, with a minimum central pressure of 929 mb and maximum sustained winds near 115 knots (130 mph).  The highest sustained winds in the Lower Florida Keys were measured at 61 knots (70 mph) at a NOAA National Ocean Service station at Key West Harbor, with a peak measured gusts at 120 mph at the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge and a private residence on Big Pine Key.  Storm survey evidence of hurricane-force wind gusts include:  From Ohio, Missouri, Bahia Honda through Little Torch Keys, the strongest estimated winds were evident, possibly attributable to a mesoscale eyewall vortex circulation within the northeast quadrant of the eyewall.  A general path of of maximum wind damage occurred from the western end of Scout Key, just south of Big Pine Key Park, through Key Deer Boulevard north of South Street.  Complete roof structure failure involving snapped wood trusses was observed on several homes along with complete exterior wall failure on one waterfront home.  The path continued across Key Deer Boulevard where utility pole both of wood and hollow-spun concrete design were snapped with numerous spans lying in completely opposite directions.  The southern spans opposite to the direction of the mean wind.  Peak wind gusts were estimated 150 to 160 mph along the northern side of the apparent circulation.  Elsewhere across Big Pine Key, significant roofing loss and collapse of exterior walls on older mobile homes, large sections of roof coverings of all types, soffet damage and large metal roof, wall and door failures on modern metal building systems indicated more widespread estimated peak wind gusts of 120 to 130 mph.  From Ramrod Key through Sugarloaf Key, widespread business and residential roof covering damage of all types was observed, with isolated roof truss or gable end failures of older design.  It was noted a diagonal metal cross brace on an electric power transmission line across Niles Channel became detached from one vertical concrete column, indicative of significant deformation or flexing of the transmission towers.  Estimated peak wind gusts of 110 to 120 mph were attributed to this damage.  From Lower Sugarloaf Key through Big Coppitt Key, widespread small residential and business roof coverings with isolated structural gale end or overhang damage was noted especially in areas of open north wind exposure.  Isolated mobile home destruction including collapse of all walls was observed, although some modern mobile homes adjacent to properties with severe destruction exhibited few signs of cosmetic damage.  Estimated peak wind gusts 100 to 110 mph were attributed.  From Boca Chica Key through Key West, losses of roof coverings, soffet damage to residential homes and condominiums were noted, with two hotels exhibiting gable-end wood truss failures and sheathing of both mid-rise and two-story design.  Peak estimated wind gusts 90 to 100 mph were attributed, although the hotel mid-rise roof structure failure was in an area of open north wind exposure directly off the Gulf of Mexico may have indicated wind gusts in the 100 to 110 mph range.  Injuries estimated due to no operating hospitals nor rescue services available during the time of hurricane force wind impact.

Storm Surge/Tide in MONROE/MIDDLE KEYS, FLORIDA
From 10-SEP-17 00:00:00 to 11-SEP-17 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Storm surge estimates of 5 to 8 feet were evident from Marathon and Key Colony Beach, Grassy Key, and Duck Key. Storm surge values of 3 to 5 feet were observed from Conch Key through Long Key and Layton.  Total water height ranged from around 4 to 5 feet above ground level along the western edge of Marathon and Key Colony Beach to about 2 feet above ground level in Layton.  Numerous mobile homes were destroyed in Marathon as the storm tide pushed them off foundations toward U.S. Highway 1.