5pm is out....first recon info in, basically confirmed the projected strength, track is now at 255 degrees. NHC again shifted their track south and suggested further shifting south or west may be needed in the next day or so. There is still a clear split between those models who see a weakening in the ridge that would allow for the NNW turn just West of Florida, and those models that see the ridge holding stronger and forcing Ike to the West/Central GOM. We probably wont' know if the weakness will be there until Late Saturday or Early Sunday as Ike approaches the Turks and Caicos.