Instant Alert: Irma will become a ‘major’ hurricane early next week

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   Irma will become a 'major' hurricane early next week by Lisa Von Ahn on Sep 2, 2017, 1:21 PM Advertisement The U.S. National Hurricane Center described Irma as a small hurricane on Saturday as it moved west across the Atlantic Ocean but said it should become "major" when it gets closer to the Lesser Antilles early next week. "It is much too early to determine what direct impacts Irma will have on the Bahamas and the continental United States," the forecaster said. At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT), the hurricane center said Irma was about 1,220 miles (1,965 km) east of the Leeward Islands, with maximum sustained winds of 110 miles (180 kilometers) per hour. SEE ALSO: Irma is now a major Category 3 hurricane as it moves across the Atlantic   Share the latest business news with your network:    Email sent to:   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011