the fix they're giving is that weak, old inner core that's ricocheting around inside the large envelope of the storm. it's gonna keep doing that as long as the storm moves slowly and doesn't mix the dry air out of the center. some of that appears to be taking place, but it doesn't happen quickly. as for the earlier quote on bastardi's intensity... i don't see why it can't get to cat 2, later on. if anybody remembers gustav in 2002, it took a similar glancing path against the outer banks, and deepened baroclinically as it moved out into the north atlantic quite a bit. ophelia could do something similar. near the outer banks i doubt it will surpass category 1, however.
HF 1708z13september