It was a category three storm when it struck, the National Hurricane Center said, adding police had recorded a wind gust at 130mph (209km/h) recently.

This image from Flight Radar, external vividly illustrates how Hurricane Irma has left the skies above Florida a flight-free zone right now.

Image source, Flight Radar

BBC World Service journalist Jaime G de Gispert, external shared this video from Miami's South Beach:

The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams has shared a different video on his feed:

French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit St Martin, a Caribbean island shared between France and the Netherlands, where Irma destroyed about 60% of homes.

Macron will arrive at the popular tourist destination by Tuesday morning, according to Interior Minister Gerard Collomb.

This video is said to show the storm hitting Marco Island, just south of Naples:

Marco Island is one of the areas where authorities have warned people to stay away from the water, which could rise by as much as 15ft (4.5m).

Another construction crane has collapsed in downtown Miami, according to local news reports.

The storms have hit the structures with winds of 130mph (209km/h).

But as BBC's Jessica Lussenhop has reported, the cranes are supposed able to withstand winds of up to 145 mph.

Barbara Plett Usher
BBC News, Miami

Image source, Reuters

Miami is being pummeled with winds of up to 90 miles per hour and storm surges are rushing through the streets downtown.

We checked with people in South Beach who hunkered down at home.

“We are good, still got power and a roof!” Alison Potter texted, describing a mad dash through the neighbourhood after her dog – she let him out during a lull in the wind and rain and he ran off.

Brenda Legrange also still had power.

“Feeling sad for the Keys but will head down as soon as it is safe to volunteer if needed,” she texted.

My hotel lobby is crowded with kids playing hide and seek and people watching the ferocious wind storm through hurricane proof windows.

Alex Perez constantly checks his iPhone for updates from friends and family in the Florida Keys; he evacuated at the last minute. He is hearing of a few people struggling to get out of their homes, one because of rising water, another because it was hit by a tree.

The American Red Cross has tweeted the following:

Water could rise as high as 15ft (4.5m) in the Naples and Marco Island area, the National Hurricane Center is warning.

People have been told to move away from the water, which could rise in a matter of minutes.

Vice-President Mike Pence revealed Mr Trump was worried by the latest briefing he received:

Mr Pence, who was visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency's headquarters, also said the president had directed full federal resources to Florida as it deals with Hurricane Irma.

Those following social media for news of the storm may have some trouble finding what they're looking for.

The top-trending Twitter hashtag in the United States is currently #HurrcaneIrma, external - filled with interesting posts about the weather but - as eagle-eyed readers will have spotted - missing the i.

Image source, Twitter

Irma has been downgraded to a category three storm, the US Hurricane Center has said.

Wind speeds have decreased to 193km/h (120mph) from 209km/h (130mph).

However, the Center warned Irma will remain powerful as she moves north.

The Busch Gardens theme park in Tampa Bay has evacuated its resident flamingo flock to firmer shelter ahead of the storm.

The theme park is closed on Sunday during the bad weather.

People in Hialeah, just north of Miami, have been asked to not flush the toilet too often after one of its sewage pump stations lost all power.

The potential for overflowing waste led Mayor Carlos Hernandez to issue the warning on Sunday.

Unfortunately for those living in the affected streets, power will not be restored until after the storm has passed and it has become safe again.

The BBC's Suzanne Kianpour spoke to an Italian couple on their honeymoon in Miami as they take refuge from the powerful Atlantic storm.

Image source, Getty Images

The Pentagon said on Sunday it was carrying out response operations throughout the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico while continuing evacuations of US citizens from the island of St Martin.

It will set up airfields in the southern part of Florida to provide support as Irma passes, including the distribution of more than 12 million meals over the next 10 days.

Meteorologist Chris Suchan tweets a photo of just how high the waters are in Cudjoe Key, where Irma made landfall as a category four hurricane at 9:10 am ET (13:10 GMT).