The Evacuation of Wake

It looks like Supertyphoon Ioke could completely overwash one of the U.S. possessions in the Pacific--the tiny Wake Island, which is comprised of 3 coral atolls and houses about 200 people who have now been evacuated. Apparently the whole thing could be entirely underwater from this massive and dangerous storm, currently posting maximum sustained winds of 130 knots, or almost 150 miles per hour, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (which also says Ioke is creating 46 foot waves). All of which means that nothing other than concrete could be left intact on Wake if this thing hits more or less directly.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Ernesto isn't nearly so imposing any longer, and has lingered longer than expected over Cuba, leading to considerable weaking. It's no longer all that likely that this thing will be a hurricane when it hits Florida. Ernesto seems to have a love of land; not only did the storm spend a long time over Cuba, but the latest track shows it may spend a long time over Florida as well....all of which decreases the chance of having a very intense storm, although Jeff Masters stil thinks we could have a hurricane again once this one gets over the warm Gulf Stream in the Atlantic....