CAT 4!!!! Ike in Rapid Intensification Mode..

This storm became a hurricane this afternoon, late in the day. Hit Cat 3 without even burping for Cat 2 and is now a few hours later a Cat 4!

135 mph winds...and in their own words forecast for further strengthening...

"Maximum sustained winds have increased to near near 135 mph...215
km/hr...with higher gusts. Ike is an extremely dangerous category
four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Some
fluctuations in intensity are expected during the next day or
two".

15 GMT 09/03/08 20.8N 51.2W 70 991 Tropical Storm
21 GMT 09/03/08 21.6N 52.7W 80 984 Category 1 Hurricane
00 GMT 09/04/08 21.7N 53.2W 115 960 Category 3 Hurricane
03 GMT 09/04/08 22.1N 54.1W 135 948 Category 4 Hurricane


Simply amazing...

As for Hanna, TWC crew is set up at Wrightsville Beach. We'll see. Thinking Hanna looks like she wants to pull more westward that she is currently but we'll see. Something about the water vapor loop that's nagging at me but we'll see in the morning.



Look at the way it's digging down and under and Hanna seems to lean to the right. Definitely not a fish.

Sweet dreams of intense hurricanes that go from Tropical Storm to Cat 4 in less than one day...