Hurricane Irma path chaser tracks peak gusts in Key West Florida in viral video
HURRICANE Irma’s destructive winds tipped by the NOAA National Hurricane Center to hit 130mph in Florida, with one storm chaser appearing in a video being lashed by severe weather as he tried to track the eye.
By LEIGH BOOBYER
Express.co.uk
Sun, Sep 10, 2017
Juston Drake, a meteorologist and self titled ‘storm rider’, measured Hurricane Irma’s path at 117mph on a handheld anenometer, which he says “under samples actual speed” as he was unable to withstand the powerful winds.
A shocking video shows Mr Drake step out of his car and fall to his feet almost immediately.
He courageously battles the category 4 hurricane by stretching his legs long directly against the gusts, attempting to stick his feet firmly to the ground.
He is pushed backwards and almost lost to the power of the storm, but fights back by running into the winds – still with his arm out to collect the data.
He is seen being battered by sheets of vertical rain, with just a ski mask and a waterproof jacket as protection.
And the powerful gusts mean he can only stay still for a second before having to rebalance.
He posted the dramatic footage to his Twitter account, with users watching with horror.
One said: “What is the World Record for highest wind recorded by hand held wind meter by unshielded or supported person?” prompting a reply: “Whatever it was, it’s now that”.
The recorded wind gusts were tracked in Saddlebunch Keys 7:43am EDT, seven miles out of east of Key West – where Hurricane Irma’s is currently thrashing the island city.
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