UPDATE, Monday 6:35 AM: Hurricane Irma has been downgraded to a tropical storm, but its effects are still being felt in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, where there are flash flood warnings today. Winds are being clocked at 70 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center, as the storm is expected to weaken further as it moves inland.
Irma left more than 5.7 million customers without power and littered Florida with downed trees, downed power lines and standing water Sunday, and it triggered evacuation orders for 5.6 million people before it made two landfalls in Florida. This morning Tampa and Jacksonville are still under storm-surge warnings; the surge was expected to be greater in parts of Florida earlier Sunday but despite some flooding there was much less than forecast. Tornado warning are also in effect for Georgia and the Carolinas.
Disney released a statement updating the status of its Florida theme parks, which like Universal Studios Orlando and SeaWorld were set to be closed today. “Walt Disney World Parks and Disney Springs remain closed today. We are beginning an initial assessment of our property. While we experienced high winds and rain, we maintained power throughout the storm. As the hurricane has passed, we are keeping safety top of mind and working closely with public officials to determine when conditions are clear to make further operational decisions. We will communicate updates as we have more information to share.”
Cable networks are beginning to relax their minute-by-minute reporting after a weekend straight of non-stop live coverage.
PREVIOUS, Sunday PM: With Hurricane Irma moving fast and hard up Florida’s Gulf Coast, storm surges of 10-15 feet expected in places, and TV correspondents doing exactly what they’re warning viewers not to do – stand in the rain – cable news channels continued wall-to-wall coverage today. ABC went with continuous coverage Sunday afternoon, while NBC and CBS broke into regular sports programming with special reports.
Irma will continue well into Monday as it moves toward and beyond Georgia, expected to degrade to a tropical storm as it heads north.
Deadline will update this roster as additional coverage as announced.
Note: All times are Eastern.
ABC
ABC is continuing coverage throughout the day, with Dan Harris and Elizabeth Vargas anchoring from New York, and David Muir leading coverage in Florida.
Hurricane Irma: Monster Storm, A Special Edition of 20/20 will air Sunday from 7-8 pm, with George Stephanopoulos and Vargas anchoring live from New York.
ABC News Digital has full live coverage and analysis of Hurricane Irma on all ABC News platforms, social sites, OTT and mobile apps, including live reports from ABC News correspondents. ABC NewsOne, the affiliate news service of ABC News, will offer coverage from Florida for more than 200 ABC affiliates and news partners.
CBS
CBS plans CBS News Special Reports at half-time and post-game during today’s NFL game. The special reports will continue during primetime and throughout the night.
CBS Weekend News will expand to one hour tonight (6-7 pm), anchored by Jeff Glor in Florida and Anthony Mason in New York, with a live broadcast for the West Coast.
CBSN, CBS News’ live 24/7 streaming news service, will continue to provide ongoing coverage including on-the-ground reporting from CBS News affiliates and a livestream of CBS News’ Special Reports.
On Monday, Gayle King, Charlie Rose and Norah O’Donnell will anchor a one-hour CBS News Special Report at 6 am leading into CBS This Morning (7-9 am).
CNN
CNN will stay live through the weekend. Anderson Cooper, Chris Cuomo, John Berman and Victor Blackwell anchor from Miami with numerous correspondents throughout state.
Fox Business Network
Fox Business Network will provide breaking news coverage with FBN correspondent Jeff Flock reporting live from various locations in Florida.
On Monday, FBN will feature a special two-hour live edition of FBN:AM (4-6 AM) with hosts Cheryl Casone and Lauren Simonetti providing breaking news updates and futures market reaction surrounding the storm and its social and economic impact.
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel continues live coverage. Chief news anchor Shepard Smith anchors Sunday starting at 8 am, with Bill Hemmer live from Miami. Numerous FNC correspondents will be reporting from various locations in Florida and the Southeast throughout the duration of the storm.
NBC/MSNBC
NBC News will break to reports throughout the afternoon, and plans special coverage from 4:30-6 pm, anchored by Kate Snow and joined by Lester Holt on the ground from Florida. Holt will anchor NBC Nightly News in the field and continue to report for Today, with Al Roker in Tampa for NBC Nightly News, Today and MSNBC.
Brian Williams will anchor MSNBC’s rolling coverage today through 5 pm and again from 8 pm through 11 pm.
NBCNews.com features complete reporting online at NBCNews.com/Irma.
Telemundo
Noticias Telemundo announced a special news operation to report on Hurricane Irma, with extensive coverage led by Noticias Telemundo anchor José Díaz-Balart from Miami.
The NoticiasTelemundo.com website and Noticias Telemundo digital platforms on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are complementing the on-air coverage and providing constant updates and exclusive reports from areas in the path of the storm, as well as forecasts and other important information for the affected population and reactions from across the country.
Telemundo’s Miami stations are in wall-to-wall coverage mode, with all Telemundo- and NBC-owned stations from across the country have sent teams to help with coverage and backup, as well as bilingual NBC reporters who have come in to help across both WTVJ and WSCV. Telemundo has out-of-state back-up options with access to local reporters in the field if it becomes necessary.
The Weather Channel
The network began covering the hurricane Thursday and will continue until further notice. TWC has on-camera meteorologists in Cocoa Beach, Delray Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Tampa; and Savannah, Georgia.
Univision
Univision Miami will have continuous coverage through the storm and its aftermath. Content is being simulcast on UnivisionMiami.com, Facebook Live and the local radio stations including WAMR- FM 107.5, WAQI-AM 710, WQBA-AM 1140 and WRTO-FM 98.3. Miami radio stations will stay on throughout the storm providing vital information and support to the community.
Univision NOW is offering Florida residents a 1-month free account. No payment information is required at http://www.univisionnow.com.
Univision Noticias is also covering Irma extensively online in collaboration with the local and television network crews on the ground.
Must Read Stories
Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.