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Storm clouds raged overheard as locals took to the beach to get a perfect shot

Tornado-like spouts have been spotted in the skies above Florida but it didn't stop thrillseekers


The storm has already claimed its first victim

Irma today claimed its first Florida victim when a man was killed in pickup truck crash caused by the appalling weather conditions.
The state has since confirmed no more deaths.

Forecasters have warned of storm surges as high as 15 feet yet it didn't deter daredevil funseekers from wading into the waves for a shot


The US National Weather Service (NWS) had warned the area would start to feel the full brunt of Irma at about 7am (12 noon UK time).
In a tweet, they warned "the worst is yet to come" - urging those exposed to the category four storm to stay indoors, hunker down away from windows, and to use "whatever you have to try and protect yourself from flying debris".
Irma's outer rain bands first lashed the Florida Keys on Saturday night as the massive storm slowly began turning from Cuba's northern coast up into the Florida Strait.

Devastating gales and catastrophic flooding is forecast


Pictures taken by terrified locals caught up in the midst of Irma reveal the low-lying Keys being buffeted by winds and heavy rain.
Earlier, 6.4 million people had been told to run for their lives as the killer winds approached.

Satellite image shows the eye of Hurricane Irma passing near the Florida Keys


Hurricane-strength winds of 74 mph reached Key West in the early hours of this morning UK time, the National Weather Service said.
The leading edge of the immense storm bent palm trees and spat torrents of rain across South Florida, knocking out power to more than 170,000 homes and businesses, as the eye approached Key West.
Devastating winds, heavy rain and huge waves will batter the Sunshine State as it braces itself for its "most catastrophic storm ever".

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