It affected the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic, Haiti, The Bahamas, Cuba and the Southeastern United States.
It developed on August 30 East of the Cape Verde Islands from a tropical wave that had moved off the west African coast two days prior, which makes it a typical Cape Verde hurricane. It is the ninth named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season.
While millions of people on the ground were struggling to cope with the storm's aftermath, astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) had a unique perspective on the event. From their vantage point some 400 kilometers (250 miles) above the Earth's surface, they were able to witness the storm's full scale and power, with winds gusting up to 300 k;/h (185 mph) and rain lashing the landscape below. The storm's massive size and destructive force were clearly visible from the ISS, and the crew's images of the storm helped meteorologists on the ground to track and understand its movements, potentially saving countless lives.
The images captured by ISS astronauts during Hurricane Irma were not only of practical use, but also served as a stark reminder of the raw power of nature. From the safety of the space station, crew members watched in awe as the storm wreaked havoc on the ground, leaving entire communities in ruins and causing billions of dollars in damage. The sight of the storm from space was both beautiful and terrifying, highlighting the fragility of our planet in the face of extreme weather events, and the urgent need for us to take action to protect ourselves and our environment from their devastating effects.
Here is a video of Hurricane Irma as seen from the International Space Station (ISS)
Affected Islands:
Antigua
Barbuda
British Virgin Islands
Dominican Republic
Puerto Rico
Saba
Sint Eustatius
Sint Maarten
The Bahamas
Turks and Caicos Islands
