Just a couple of quick notes to keep in mind...

1) Let's be careful with some of the Charley comparisons. Fay is not as small of a storm as was Charley, nor is it or will it be nearly as strong of a storm as was Charley when it hit Cuba. Charley was a major hurricane when it hit Cuba and spent a relatively short time over land; Fay will not be a major hurricane when it hits Cuba and will likely spend longer over or near land.

Is a strong storm still in the realm of possibility for Fay? Yes. But, the only true comparison to Charley right now is the potential angle of approach to the western Florida coastline. Be prepared for something one category higher than anticipated, but the comparisons to a fast-moving, deepening category 4 hurricane are a bit overdone right now.

2) Bev makes some good comments about focusing on the cone rather than the line down the middle of the cone. This rings especially true for any storm that approaches the coastline close to parallel to the coast. If you are ordered to evacuate and cannot or do not want to go to a shelter near your home, you are best going somewhere to the north and west that is outside of the cone entirely. Two days out, if you live in south Florida, this could be the Big Bend; if you live in Tampa, it could be toward Tallahassee or slightly further west. Better safe than sorry, as small track changes can lead to significant impacts in areas off of that solid line.