The Latest on Ike

Hurricane Ike is about 3 hours from landfall now.

FAST FACTS
LOCATION…28.6 N…94.4 W OR 55 MILES SSE OF GALVESTON.
MOVEMENT…NW 12 MPH
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…110 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…952 MB.

The storm has been getting better organized since late afternoon, with increasing outflow and convection around the center. If it had been over water for 12 more hours, I think it would have been a Category Four.

The eye contracted from about 65 miles in diameter to about 40 miles in diameter.

But fortunately, the storm never got its inner core completely together.

Still, because of its shear size and intensity, it has been incredibly powerful. A huge storm surge has impacted the Gulf Coast as far east as Northwest Florida today.

Tides are holding around 8-10 feet now from the Freeport area to the Central Louisiana Coast. As the winds become more southerly and southeasterly, the storm surge will rise dramatically later tonight. Surges as high as 22 feet are expected in the Galveston Bay.

SOME LATE REPORTS FROM NWS LAKE CHARLES
They are extremely concerned about major flooding ni downtown Lake Charles…especially along the Contraband Bayou. Water is just a foot lower than the levels observed during Rita at Lake Charles Civic Center.

Haven’t heard much about Cameron late this afternoon and tonight…I am fearful about what is happening there.

PORT ARTHUR…
I also think Port Arthur will experience extreme flooding as their winds come around to the south later.

Not many surface observations from the area around Galveston now. Most stations are not reporting.

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