Still Hot

We have had a few hot days here in the Mahoning Valley, and Thursday will be more of the same as temperatures will soar to near 88 degrees. We will run the risk of a shower or thunderstorm as even more humid air comes into the region ahead of a cold front. Looking ahead to next week, much more comfortable temperatures are expected.

2 Intensifying 1 Weakening Storm

BREAKING NEWS: IKE BECOMES A DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE IN THE OPEN ATLANTIC.

Hurricane Ike has rapidly intensified into a monster today. As of 11pm, winds were 135 mph and the pressure was 948 millibars. It is too early to pinpoint who if anyone will be affected by this hurricane, but it is definitely one to watch since it is so strong. On a positive note, some models are predicting that Ike will turn out to sea, but the consensus of the models bring Ike to where Hanna is now (in the Central Bahamas).

Meanwhile, Hanna has began its trek back towards hurricane strength as winds increased from 60 to 65 mph this afternoon and now, as of 11 pm remain at 65 with a pressure of 989 millibars. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for all of the Bahamas, and a hurricane watch will probably be issued for the US coastline sometime tomorrow. While the exact landfall location of Hanna is uncertain, I believe she will be a category one storm. However, since the storm is so large, a wide area may be affected by this storm. The projected path takes the storm very close to the outer banks of North Carolina, but also we need to keep close watch on the South Carolina coastline as well. Persons still from Georgia through Virginia need to monitor the progress of this system. No matter where the storm’s final landfall point is, places from Florida through the New England Coast need to be careful out in the water as rip currents and waves will be building. Pay attention to local lifeguards and coast police for the latest on the beach situation.

Tropical Storm Josephine has weakened today with winds down to 50 mph. Further weakening is expected and Josephine should not be an affect on anyone except shipping lanes. We will keep watching it however.

Hanna Update

Tropical Storm Hanna has weakened further this morning with a pressure now near 993 millibars and winds of 60 mph. The storm is expected to strengthen a little today, with a more defined strengthening possible later in the week. Hanna is expected to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday morning as a hurricane.

Meanwhile Ike remains a strong tropical storm with winds of 65 mph and is expected to become a hurricane later today and Josephine is tracking west-northwestward over the open far east Atlantic with winds of 60 mph. Josephine won’t strengthen much due to harsh upper level winds increasing later in the week.