A look at the tropics

Ok.. tropics very hot right now... and we may see another depression form within 1 to 3 days,, Phew!

Hannah: Hannah is weakening steadily now, Just like Gustav did once it made it into the GOM. The forecast for Gustav called for it to strengthen, but it never did. I think the same may be happening with Hannah, as it is called to become a hurricane, but is weakening. I still do expect a 70 mph to 90 mph storm at landfall. Flooding will be a concern.

Ike: I think Ike will become a Cat 5 hurricane before all said and done, and will be a threat to the Gulf Coast. I think this is now going to go into steady intensification for the next 3 days, and then rapid to explosive strengthening once in the GOM. As for landfall, at this time I think it will go through the Florida Straits. But I think extreme South Florida may see a Landfall as well. Folks, this system reminds me of Hurricane Andrew, and an Andrew like path is possible, as well as intensity. At this time, I think anywhere from Northern Mexico to the Florida panhandle along the Gulf Coast should keep a close eye on this, as well as Cuba and South Florida.

Josephine: Josephine is a threat to Bermuda. I expect this system to remain a tropical storm over the next 3 to 7 days. There is a chance that this system could be very similar to Bertha, and it does remind me of Bertha. The NHC track for Bertha called for it to stay a TS, But it became a Cat 3 hurricane extremely quickly. So Bermuda as well as the East Coast should keep a close eye on this systems. I do think that it will stay away from the East Coast.. however they should still keep tabs on these systems.


Zack