Hurricane Ike Getting Larger

This is just a short update and I will have more once the next model runs are out after 9 am central.

A Hurricane Wind Watch has been issued for several counties. Here is the official statement from the Houston NWS

AUSTIN-BRAZOS-BURLESON-COLORADO-FORT BEND-GRIMES-HOUSTON-MADISON-MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON-WHARTON-558 AM CDT THU SEP 11 2008...HURRICANE WIND WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

So, this means within 36 hours, there could be hurricane force winds (75 mph or stronger) in these counties.

Hurricane force winds extend out 115 from the center. Tropical storm force winds (39 mph or higher) extend out 255 miles from the center. The center is 525 southeast of Galveston. Remember that some weather will begin arriving tonight.

The storm is now moving WNW...official forecast is still a landfall near Freeport...a near worst case scenario for the upper Texas Coast.

This storm is very strange because the central pressure at 944 mb would suggest much higher winds than 100 mph. I think this storm is still getting its act together and I wouldn't be surprised to see the winds increase 10 to 20 mph today.

More to come.

Be safe everyone.
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman