When they slow down, they change direction. As indicated by the national hurricane center, and anyone in the know, to guess on the strength of a hurricane is just that...a guess. They still don't understand enough about hurricanes to "see" why and when and how a hurricane jumps from cat 3 to 5.

So...anyone who thinks this weakening trend means we are out of the woods...better think again. I remember when hurricane Frederic rambled through the Caribbean..hitting all the land it could...and wobbled into the gulf as a tropical storm. Well, it finished as a strong 3 into Mobile, in 1979.

This storm is stalling a bit, and will enter warmer waters. The real interesting thing we can be sure of...is that we can't be sure of anything.

I have seen them die out at this stage, and restrengthen....

so if someone posts that they think it will get back to a cat 5, and others are offended...then those offended need to watch Mary Poppins or something like that....

the reality, is that anything is possible, and this is a forum designed for hobbiests...who's opinions are varied and worth what all of our opinions are....next to nothing...

In all of this, if we all learn more about these fascinating systems...well, then, that is the point. For by learning more, we then can take wiser action....(like evacuating half of Florida?)