Could Hurricane Irma still land on East Coast? Chances are near zero

MIAMI — Florida's East Coast can breathe a sigh of relief as chances of Hurricane Irma making a last-minute turn and landing here are "near zero," according to a National Hurricane Center official.

But don't let your guard down. Even if the center of the storm isn't on the East Coast this is a wide storm.

There's still a possibility hurricane winds could extend to the East Coast, Hurricane Center acting director Ed Rappaport said Saturday afternoon. The region can expect at least tropical storm conditions and gusts of hurricane-speed winds. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport reported gusts of 70 mph, which is close to hurricane speed, on Saturday afternoon. 

Hurricane Irma: Projected path, intensity and storm surge

"The greatest risk still is for the lower Keys and middle Keys and the southwest coast," Rappaport said. "There doesn't appear to be any risk for the center to come across the southeast part of the state."

The center of Irma already passed the longitude of Southeast Florida. It will get close to South Florida and is projected to move west, Rappaport said.

More:Hurricane Irma track update, radar loops

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That forecast has a margin of error of 30 miles to 50 miles east or west. Yet even if there's a shift, the West Coast and the Keys still will get the brunt of the storm, according to the National Hurricane Center model.

Hurricane Irma is expected to make landfall in the Keys on Sunday between sunrise and 8 a.m. A West Coast landfall is forecast Sunday afternoon or evening, but it's too early to tell exactly where.

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