Hurricane Ike - once again a Category IV hurricane with sustained winds of 135mph is about to vent his wrath on Grand Turk Island on his way toward eastern Cuba Ike is currently moving west southwest and should spend Sunday evening and most of Monday crossing over Cuba on a west northwesterly course. On this track, Ike will pass south of the Florida peninsula with tropical storm conditions possible on Monday and Tuesday in south Florida and into Wednesday in the Keys. Ike is expected to move slowly into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday and Wednesday on a west northwesterly to northwesterly course as a shortwave system passes well to his north and creates a minor weakness in the high pressure ridge that is currently guiding his movement. However after Wednesday his track gets a little murky - the weakness could continue to pull Ike to the northwest or the ridge may rebuild to his north and force a more westward track again.

Ike's track over Cuba will reduce his intensity considerably - especially when he makes contact with the high mountains of eastern Cuba. With at least 36 hours over Cuba he could be a Cat I hurricane or even a tropical storm when he exits Cuba into the southeast Gulf of Mexico. At that point, if he survives Cuba, some redevelopment is possible.

Tropical Storm Hanna is rapidly approaching Long Island this evening with winds near the center now at 60mph on a track across southeastern New England. Heavy rains have already arrived in those areas with rainfall rates of up to one inch per hour.
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