5pm shifted *slightly* west, but it's almost dead on NO.
This is the most powerful/sizeable storm I have seen this close to the U.S. mainland. I fear images out of the region will be shocking to a degree only comparable to the recent tsunami damage (on a much smaller scale, of course). We are within 12 hours now, and there are no signs this will come in as anything less than a cat5. The only thing we can do is pray it manages to miss the highest population centers.
I'm headed to NY now, I will be back on later tonight hopefully.
Thanx, Ian. Godspeed to everyone in harm's way.