WATCH: Category 5 Hurricane Irma's track shifts slightly west, winds top 165 mph

MIAMI — 11 p.m. Thursday update

Hurricane Irma’s track shifts slightly West. Catastrophic impact to South Florida. It remains a category 5 hurricane, with wind speeds of 165 mph.

The storm is expected to cause life-threatening wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas through Saturday.

Severe hurricane conditions are expected for South Florida to start late Saturday.

Irma is likely to make landfall as a catastrophic Cat 5 hurricane in Miami_Dade county.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 75 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles.

8:30 p.m. Thursday update

Gov. Rick Scott announced Thursday night that he had directed all public schools and state colleges, universities and offices to close Friday through at least Monday.

He released the following statement:

“Today, I am directing the closure of all public schools, state colleges, state universities and state offices for their normal activities effective Friday through Monday, to ensure we have every space available for sheltering and staging.

Floridians are facing a life-threatening storm in Hurricane Irma, and every family must prepare to evacuate. Our state’s public schools serve a vital role in our communities as shelters for displaced residents and staging areas for hurricane recovery efforts.

Closing public schools, state colleges, state universities and state offices will provide local and state emergency officials the flexibility necessary to support shelter and emergency response efforts.”

Scott also issued a voluntary evacuation order, beginning immediately, for cities surrounding the southern half of Lake Okeechobee from Lake Port to Canal Point in Hendry, Palm Beach and Glades counties.

The evacuations will become mandatory starting Friday morning, Scott's office said.

The decision to start evacuating the area was based on a review of the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told the governor that excessive wind could push water over the dike, but assured his office that the structural integrity of the structure was sound.

• South Bay
• Lake Harbor
• Pahokee
• Moore Haven
• Clewiston
• Belle Glade
• Canal Point

8 p.m. Thursday update

The National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Irma was grinding across the Turks and Caicos Islands, pummeling them with 175 mph winds.

In the meantime, Hurricane Jose continued toward the northern Leeward Islands at 18 mph.

The storm, now a Category 3, has sustained winds measured at 120 mph.

5 p.m. Thursday update

Hurricane Irma's track has shifted west. This means that Irma could possibly be making landfall early Sunday morning over Southern Miami-Dade County and then may travel northward across inland counties.

Irma remains a Category 5 storm with winds at 175 mph. It's located about 40 miles south of Grand Turk island.

The new trajectory show Central Florida may experience 74-plus mph winds Sunday night through Monday.

2 p.m. Thursday update

Hurricane Irma is still a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph, according to an advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Irma is moving at 16 mph and was located about 70 miles southeast of Grand Turk Island, the NHC said.

Certified Chief Meteorologist Tom Terry said Central Florida residents should take steps to prepare their homes and properties for hurricane conditions.

The next update from the National Hurricane Center is at 5 p.m.

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11 a.m. Thursday update

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Wednesday morning that Hurricane Irma has maximum sustained winds of 175 mph.

The Category 5 storm is moving west-northwest at 16 mph near the northern coast of the island of Hispaniola, which comprises the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the NHC said.

The storm is headed toward the Turks and Caicos Islands next. At least 10 people have died in the storm throughout the Caribbean islands.

Hurricane and surge watches have been issued for South Florida and the Florida Keys.

Read: Hurricane Irma: Details on school closures

Channel 9 certified meteorologist Brian Shields said Central Florida residents should complete storm preparations by 5 p.m. Saturday.

Download the free WFTV weather app and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates on the storm's progression. Read more hurricane stories in the Eye on the Tropics section.

8 a.m. Thursday update

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Wednesday morning that Hurricane Irma continues to have maximum sustained winds of 180 mph.

The NHC said the eye of the powerful Category 5 storm is moving west-northwest at 17 mph along the northern coast of the island of Hispaniola, which comprises the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

The storm is headed toward the Turks and Caicos Islands next.

Channel 9 certified meteorologist Brian Shields said Central Florida residents -- especially those who live in coastal areas -- should complete storm preparations by 5 p.m. Saturday.

Hurricane watches will likely be issued for parts of Florida Thursday and Friday, Shields said.

Download the free WFTV weather app and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates on the storm's progression. Read more hurricane stories in the Eye on the Tropics section.

5 a.m. Thursday update

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said early Wednesday that Hurricane Irma has maximum sustained winds of 180 mph as it moves west-northwest at 17 mph over the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

The NHC said the powerful Category 5 storm is projected to make landfall south of Miami by Sunday.

The storm will continue to travel over the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, which will help it maintain its strength.

Channel 9 certified meteorologist Brian Shields said Central Florida residents -- especially those who live in coastal areas -- should complete storm preparations, such as boarding up and shuttering windows, by Saturday.

"Prepare to be where you need to be by 5 p.m. Saturday," Shields said. "While Irma’s track may change, the window for waiting has closed. Full preparations should be taking place across Central Florida."

Hurricane watches will likely be issued for parts of Florida Thursday and Friday, Shields said.

Read: Hurricane Irma: Details on school closures

"The exact impacts are still unknown, but we need to be fully ready," he said. "Hurricane conditions will be possible on Sunday and Monday."

Shields said that although the the track could still shift eastward, those who live inland should prepare for the possibility of hurricane conditions, including sustained winds of 75 mph or more.

"If you had to evacuate during Matthew, there is a chance you will have to again with Irma," Shields said. "Have a 'go' bag ready in case you are asked to evacuate."

There will be a 50 percent chance of afternoon thunderstorms through Sunday in advance of the hurricane.

Download the free WFTV weather app and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates on the storm's progression. Read more hurricane stories in the Eye on the Tropics section.

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