NASA 3D view of Hurricane Ike
click for large hi-res animation
wunderground reports convection has closed around the eye region and an intensification cycle is starting, race against time whether landfall disrupts it before the inner winds go up a catergory, or two.
main issue is still width of the hurricane force wind field, and the size of the storm surge.
the oildrum has updated analysis of possible oil production and refinery impact - shutdown of much of gulf of mexico production for few weeks, mostly precautionary. possible damage to 20-30% of US refinery capacity, depending on exact track and intensity.
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Cuba is taking the brunt of the storm as Hurricane Ike travels along its very spine. Remarkably, Ike still had a visible eye this morning, and is showing fewer signs of weakening than expected.
Hurricane Ike is currently over warm water south of Cuba, and is heading back onto land. Ike will pass over roughly the same area of Western Cuba that was hit by hurricane Gustav.
One of the most important elements in the success of the D-Day invasion of Europe ... commanded by the other Ike, General Ike Eisenhower, was that the Allies pretended to prepare to invade from and to a different region of England/France.
Remember how Hanna messed up western Cuba? It now looks like Ike is going to mess up the rest of Cuba. The current track forecast has Ike running right down the spine of the country until exiting just east of Hanna's coverage.