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Hurricane Irma makes second official landfall; gusts up to 142 MPH

<p>Florida Gov. Rick Scott warns that the incoming storm surge from Hurricane Irma could prove deadly. </p><p>"Six to 12 feet — this will cover your house. If you've ever ... watched how a storm surge works, it flows in fast, very fast, and then it flows out. You will not survive all this storm surge," Scott said at a press conference. </p><p>The <a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT1+shtml/051446.shtml" target="_blank">National Hurricane Center</a> also put out warnings about life-threatening storm surge. But what exactly is it, and why should residents be worried? </p><p>To put it simply, it's an <a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/hazards.php" target="_blank">unusually high</a> sea level brought on by a hurricane's winds.</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/hurricane-irma-makes-landfall-in-florida-as-category-4-storm/">Hurricane Irma Officially Arrives In Florida</a></b></p><p>Those winds <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBa9bVYKLP0" target="_blank">push waves</a> toward shore, and, because they're pushing water inland so fast, they cause flooding.</p><p>Worse yet, more waves can ride on top of the surge. These waves can crash into buildings and cause flooding farther inland.</p><p>According to the National Hurricane Center, the surge is part of the storm that poses "the greatest threat to life and property along the coast."</p><p>Storm surge can also make the effects of other parts of a hurricane, like heavy rain, worse. </p><p>For example, <a href="https://www.newsy.com/topics/hurricane-harvey/" target="_blank">Hurricane Harvey</a> dumped more than 4 feet of rain on some parts of Texas. And at the same time, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/climate/how-hurricane-harvey-became-so-destructive.html?mcubz=1" target="_blank">storm surge</a> elevated Galveston Bay, preventing flood waters from draining. </p><p>Ahead of Hurricane Irma, about 6.3 million Floridians have been urged to evacuate. </p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/hurricane-irma-makes-landfall-in-florida-as-category-4-storm/">Hurricane Irma Officially Arrives In Florida</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/dhs-waives-the-jones-act-to-help-gas-supply-in-florida/">The Government Waived An Old Law To Avoid A Hurricane Gas Shortage</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/eric-bolling-out-at-fox-news-after-harassment-accusations/">Eric Bolling Out At Fox News Following Sexual Harassment Allegations</a></li></ul>
Posted 11:19 AM, Sep 10, 2017
and last updated 12:04 AM, Sep 11, 2017

Hurricane Irma officially made a second landfall Sunday afternoon as a Category 3 storm near Maro Island, Florida. Observations on Marco Island measured winds gusting up to 130 MPH just before the eye came onshore around 3:30 p.m. ET.

Further to the north, Naples measured a peak wind gust at 142 MPH.

The first landfall came Sunday morning at 9:10 near Cudjoe Key. The National Weather Service said that wind gusts were measured above 100 MPH on the Florida Keys. 

Officially, Irma was a Category 4 hurricane during its first US landfall Sunday morning.

The hurricane continued to move past the Florida Keys, and drifted into the Gulf of Mexico before making another landfall.

Irma packed winds of 110 MPH as of 7 p.m. as it lashed much of Florida, down from 130 MPH earlier on Sunday.

Three people have died in Florida with Hurricane Irma's power to blame; officials said all three were the results of automobile crashes. Among those killed was an on-duty sheriff's deputy who had just left a hurricane shelter.

PHOTOS: Hurricane Irma strikes Florida
PHOTOS: Florida preps for Irma

Almost the entire state of Florida is under a hurricane warning affecting at least 36 million people, with concerns of devastating gales, heavy rain and life-threatening storm surge.

Those who did not evacuate ahead of the storm are in danger, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long said Saturday.

"You're on your own until we can actually get in there and it's safe," he told CNN.

"The message has been clear: The Keys are going to be impacted. There is no safe area within the Keys. And you put your life in your own hands by not evacuating."

There have also been dozens of tornado warnings througout the state of Florida. 

Here are the latest developments:

-- More than 1.3 million electric customers are without power, Florida Power and Light said Sunday.

-- A majority of those who lost power are in Monroe County, where Key West is, and Miami-Dade County.

-- Hurricane warnings were extended north along Florida's west coast as far away as Perry. They include the Florida Keys, Fernandina Beach and Lake Okeechobee.

-- A storm surge warning wraps around the state, from Brevard County to Tampa Bay.

-- More than 72,000 people have moved into more than 390 shelters across the state, the governor's office said.

-- At least 24 deaths have been blamed on Irma in the Caribbean islands, where it hit fast before marching toward Florida.

-Tropical storm warnings have been issued as far north as Atlanta.

- A crane has collapsed in Miami, but has not caused any injuries. 

- A fast-moving tornado was reported by the National Weather Service near Fort Lauderdale International Airport.