Ike Still a Category Two

After strengthening steadily this afternoon, Ike has not strengthened this evening, as it remains a category two hurricane with winds of 100 mph. However, the pressure has rapidly dropped to 944 millibars. However, I was watching Dr. Steve Lyons tonight on The Weather Channel and he was explaining how that with a storm so large as Ike (tropical storm winds out 230 miles from the eye), a lower pressure is common. Therefore, the winds are expected to go up, and Ike is forecast to become a major hurricane sometime tomorrow or Friday. Keep it here for the latest on Ike.

Another Chilly Night

It will be a beautiful evening as we get ready to move into the Fall season later this month. Look for partly cloudy skies this evening, becoming clear overnight as temperatures dip down to another cool low of 47 degrees. When you wake up in the morning, the sunshine will greet you (if you get up as late as I do) and we will warm nicely to around 79 degrees. The next shot at rain will be as we head into your Friday. Until then, enjoy the wonderful weather Youngstown!

Hurricane Watches Issued As Ike Plows Northwestward

Portions of the Texas and Louisiana coastline are now under hurricane watches as the landfall of Hurricane Ike is forecast to be just 2 days away. This hurricane watch is in effect from Cameron, LA to Port Mansfield, TX. This means hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours. Also, a tropical storm warning has been issued from Cameron, LA to the mouth of the Mississippi River. This warning has been issued because of Ike’s enormously large size, and tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area within 24 hours.

Ike has steadily strengthened this afternoon and is now a category two hurricane with winds of 100 mph. Additional strengthening is expected tonight and the next day or so as Ike continues northwestward. At 5pm, the pressure was 958 millibars and the storm was moving northwestward at 8 mph, 720 miles east of Brownsville, TX. The upper level environment appears favorable for Ike to become at least a category three hurricane before hitting Texas sometime late Friday or early Saturday. There is also the possibility that Ike could strengthen even more into a category four hurricane. The only thing that may weaken the storm temporarily over the next few days is eye-wall replacement cycles, which cannot be forecasted. Main point: Hurricane Ike is expected to be a major hurricane when it hits Texas.

President Bush has already declared Texas a disaster area, so they are available for funding from the government. Bush and the government are working with FEMA as well as Texas governor and coastal city mayors to be sure everyone is safe and evacuations are going smoothly. The American Red Cross is also asking people who can to donate to the hurricane relief fund. I have posted a link right above the NHC link in the blogroll for any of you who would like to donate. Remember, the Red Cross has been stripped dry of funding because of Hurricane Gustav as well as the other tropical systems that have plagued the US over the past few weeks (and even from Katrina and the storms of ‘04 and ‘05). Any help you can give is appreciated by the Red Cross. For the latest coverage, the National Hurricane Center link in the blogroll can get you to the latest advisories and forecasts, and on the Hurricane Ike page, latest forecasts and satellite links have been provided. I will post the next update on Ike at 11pm tonight.

Ike Still Affecting Cuba and the Keys

Even though Hurricane Ike is 145 miles west of the coast of Cuba, tropical storm force winds are still affecting the island nation, as well as the extreme western parts of the Florida Keys. Ike is moving off to the west-northwest at 8 mph, so conditions will improve as Ike heads away every so slowly. As of 8am, the winds associated with Ike were 85 mph and the pressure is down to 959 millibars. Ike is forecast to continue to strengthen over the next 2 days and then run into a less favorable environment where its intensification could level off a little. However, the official forecast makes Ike a major category 3 hurricane when it makes landfall somewhere along the Texas coast in about 3 days (late Friday/early Saturday). Persons in the Texas coast should be getting their emergency supplies ready today as evacuations may begin as early as tomorrow, depending how strong Ike gets over the next 24 hours. Listen to local emergency management officials if you live in the affected area. I will post the next update on Ike around 5pm this afternoon. Until then, the Hurricane Ike page and the National Hurricane Center link on the blogroll will keep you informed on this hurricane.