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Stunning Videos Capture The Raw Fury Of Hurricane Irma From Space

Irma is one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever as it nears Puerto Rico.
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By 

Overnight Editor, HuffPost

Hurricane Irma was upgraded to a Category 5 hurricane on Tuesday with winds of up to 185 mph, some of the strongest winds ever seen in an Atlantic storm. 

Satellite footage shared by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows the raw power of the storm as it barrels toward the Caribbean and Florida:

Irma is expected to hit the Leeward Islands in the West Indies on Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning, then may strike the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. 

Category 5 is the most powerful storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, threatening “catastrophic damage.” The last hurricane to hit the United States while still a Category 5 storm was Andrew in 1992. 

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Before You Go

Preparations For Hurricane Irma
(01 of18)
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In this panoramic view, empty shelves show the depleted supply of bottled water at the Whole Foods store in Winter Park, Florida, as residents prepare. (credit:Orlando Sentinel via Getty Images)
(02 of18)
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Matt Scally takes the letters of the marquee at the Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre as they prepare for Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017 in Miami. (credit:Joe Raedle via Getty Images)
(03 of18)
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The Marathon gas store at NW 27th Place and NW 119th Street has their windows boarded in Miami. (credit:Miami Herald via Getty Images)
(04 of18)
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Gus Sousa and Winston Mora (L-R) put hurricane shutters on a business as they prepare for Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017 in Miami. (credit:Joe Raedle via Getty Images)
(05 of18)
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A couple watch from the shore at heavy surf as hurricane Irma approaches Puerto Rico. (credit:RICARDO ARDUENGO via Getty Images)
(06 of18)
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A man with an umbrella walks on a sidewalk as Hurricane Irma approaches Puerto Rico in Luquillo, on September 6, 2017.Irma is expected to reach the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by nightfall on September 6. / AFP PHOTO / Ricardo ARDUENGO (Photo credit should read RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:RICARDO ARDUENGO via Getty Images)
(07 of18)
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Residents work together to fill sandbags for each other at Bobby Hicks Park as residents prepare ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 5, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (credit:Brian Blanco via Getty Images)
(08 of18)
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Kelly Harrington places a sandbag in front of the door of her new home. (credit:Brian Blanco via Getty Images)
(09 of18)
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Ed Fluker arranges the last remaining gas containers on otherwise empty shelves at The Home Depot in Lady Lake, Florida. (credit:Orlando Sentinel via Getty Images)
(10 of18)
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A Home Depot store employee helps to load bags of sand for customers in the Little Havana neighborhood in Miami. (credit:Reuters Photographer / Reuters)
(11 of18)
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Shoppers in a Home Depot store wait for plywood in the Little Havana neighborhood in Miami. (credit:Reuters Photographer / Reuters)
(12 of18)
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Windows of a restaurant are boarded up as part of preparations for arrival of Hurricane Irma on in Simpson Bay, on the French overseas island of Saint-Martin. (credit:LIONEL CHAMOISEAU via Getty Images)
(13 of18)
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A shopper in Sedano's Supermarket looks at nearly empty water shelves in the Little Havana neighborhood in Miami. (credit:Reuters Photographer / Reuters)
(14 of18)
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Workers install storm shutters as hurricane Irma approaches Puerto Rico in Fajardo. (credit:RICARDO ARDUENGO via Getty Images)
(15 of18)
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A sand seawall is placed in front of the hotel KKO, as part of preparations for arrival of Hurricane Irma on the beach in Orient Bay, on the French overseas island of Saint-Martin. (credit:LIONEL CHAMOISEAU via Getty Images)
(16 of18)
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A picutre taken on September 5, 2017 shows timber in a truck as people buy goods as part of preparations for arrival of Hurricane Irma in Marigot, on the French overseas island of Saint-Martin. (credit:LIONEL CHAMOISEAU via Getty Images)
(17 of18)
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People line up to get their propane tanks filled as they prepare for Hurricane Irma in Miami. (credit:Joe Raedle via Getty Images)
(18 of18)
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Windows of a car dealer are protected by tape and sandbags, on September 4, 2017 in Marigot. (credit:LIONEL CHAMOISEAU via Getty Images)
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