Irma's Assault on Florida Begins

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Residents huddled in shelters watching for updates as Hurricane Irma began its assault on Florida early Sunday as a Category 4 storm, lashing the area with winds near 130 mph (215 kph) and drenching rain.

Irma's northern eyewall reached the lower Florida Keys and the U.S. National Hurricane Center said the hurricane was expected to remain a powerful storm as it moved through the Florida Keys and near the state's west coast.

As of 8 a.m.