It would surprise me a great deal if Dean is not upgraded at 11pm, at the latest. The overall system has begun to grow tonight, the organization appears to be quite good, with banding in almost all directions, and the estimated pressure is down to 994, which is indicative of a Cat 1 hurricane.

It also appears to have resumed a basically due west motion early this evening, right on course.

byrdh: It's way too soon to tell what, if any, impact we'll have here along the coast (I'm a bit west of you, in Valparaiso). The local mets say we'll know more by the weekend, but I think it may be into next week before we really have a handle on the ultimate destination for Dean.