The NHC just issued a special advisory at 8pm to account for the rapid intensification. Ike is now a 100kt category 3 major hurricane. Continued strengthening is likely and Ike could be a dangerous category 4 storm by tomorrow.
Not yet sure about rapid intensification (RI), however after being declared a hurricane in the 5pm advisory, Ike's satellite presentation continues to improve. Dvorak T#s are coming in around 6! That would be major hurricane status. Unless the structure continues to improve like this, I doubt the NHC goes with a change of that magnitude, but a significant upgrade is still likely and I am very confident that Ike is at least a category two right now. The current satellite presentation is taking on a somewhat annular look, with a more "buzz-saw" appearance versus feeder bands. In addition to strengthening, I think Ike will begin to increase in size as well over the next few days. Right now, I am very confident in Ike becoming a major hurricane, and category 4 strength is not out of the question either. The strength of the ridge to the north still looks sufficient to bring Ike to the Bahamas by day 4 or 5. Where it goes from there is a little uncertain so the southeast US coastline needs to monitor this storm very closely.
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