Mostly bad news with Hurricane Ike

The only good things I can say are that the winds are still 100 mph and the central pressure rose slightly. This does not mean that there won't be strengthening before landfall (of the center) very late Friday night or very early Saturday morning. Error for landfall location is now down to plus or minus 80 miles.

I suspect that the storm is trying to develop a bigger eye wall...but will there be enough time? Regardless, this storm is large--so much so that a huge area will be impacted by hurricane force winds and a bigger storm surge than what you would expect with a 100 mph hurricane.

Hurricane force winds now extend out 115 mph and tropical storm force winds extend out 275 miles. The actual center is 400 miles ESE of Galveston.

Houston Hobby will stop flights beginning 9 am Friday.

People in all of Harris County in mobile homes and high rises should consider evacuating!

To see all of the discussion for southeast Texas (the Hurricane Local Statement), go to http://www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php?pil=HGXHLSHGX.

More to come!

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman