Ike Approaching Great Inagua, Hanna Extratropical

Hurricane Watches are up for the Keys, and a full evacuation is going on there. See here for more information.

Hurricane Ike is fast approaching Great Inagua island in the Bahamas, the island is mostly unpopulated except for Matthew Town on the southwest side with approximately 1000 people. Ike will likely move over this community with the full force of a Category 4 hurricane. After this it should approach Cuba, and the current track has it exiting near Havana. It is expected to weaken to a Category 1 hurricane by the time it gets there, however. After it exits Cuba the lower keys may see some outer fringe effects from the system as it moves into the Central Gulf.

Because of the uncertainty, the Florida Keys have mandatory evacuations for visitors.

Ike Microwave imagery (MIMIC) (More MIMIC)

Monroe County Emergency Bulletins (Florida Keys)
Florida County Emergency Management Websites
State of Florida Division of Emergency Management/floridadisaster.org

Southeastern US Radar Mosaic
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{{radarlink|byx|Key West, FL Radar}}
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If Cuba disrupts the core, Ike would have a hard time reforming (similar to Gustav). If it does not, it is likely to again strengthen into a major hurricane. The NHc is thinking restrengthening will take a while after it approaches Cuba.

Some of the guidance models are suggesting more of a threat to Texas this time around, but others have started to move more eastward into the Gulf, including the Florida Panhandle. This means the entire cone should be watching this, which would unfortunately include the Florida Keys (which will likely at least see some minor effects from the storm and may have watches/warnings issued), and in the Florida Panhandle westward all the way to Corpus Christi Texas. At the foretasted rate of movement it would not near the Gulf Shores until Saturday or Sunday of next week, which means there is a lot that could change before now and then. If the models start moving more north or east (some of them this morning have), then forget all this. In other words the entire Gulf should monitor Ike, including all of Florida and Mexico.

Watch model trends to get a feel of the general direction, but not of the eventual landfall point, and take the National Hurricane Center's track over all.

Hanna is extra tropical now, and back in the sea, It is expected to affect Nova Scotia in Canada, however.

The remnant of Josephine are still being watched for redevelopment, but it's not likely. And there is nothing else in the Tropics to really watch at the moment.

Color Sat of Gulf

Cuba Mosaic radar recording of Ike Approach

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Caribbean Islands Weather Reports

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