Here is an email I just received from Thomas:

It's looking more and more grim for us in the Tampa Bay area with a probable CAT 3-4 Hurricane Ivan strike. Unless we get a further west track then I'm forecasting and/or a weaker cyclone due to wind shear then I'm forecasting, the Tampa Bay area will be destroyed as we know it, with more damage then the Miami area suffered with CAT 5 Hurricane Andrew.

NOTE! As I officially retired from "for profit" weather forecasting in 2000, I do not have the time available to conduct an in depth daily Meteorological synoptic analysis, therefore my day to day accuracy will be less then in past years, when I had a 48 hour forecast accuracy in the high 90% range.
Also as the science of Meteorology and Weather Forecasting is still an inexact science, these not for profit discussions, forecasts and outlooks are not for use in lieu of official sources, are not for protection of life or property, are for educational purposes only and are subject to human error and acts of God, therefore no guarantee or warranty implied. This discussion herein is my intellectual property and copyrighted © 1988-2004 by Thomas F. Giella, all rights reserved. Reproduction of information herein is allowed as long as proper credit is given.

Take Care,
Thomas F. Giella
Retired Space & Atmospheric Weather Forecaster
Plant City, FL