[metmom]

It still is predicted to make landfall as a Category 3.

From the discussion:

Indeed... convection on the west side of Ike has been rather thin for much of the day. However...this latter upper feature is forecast to slide northeastward as Ike enters the northwestern Gulf...and in this configuration would provide an upper pattern more conducive to strengthening right before landfall.

Because of the very large expanse of hurricane force winds...Ike will create a storm surge well in excess of what would normally be associated with a storm of its intensity.

Ike is very close to making landfall. Even if the hurricane weakens some before then and the winds are not as much of an issue, the storm surge is still to be reckoned with.

Don't get your hopes up. In meteorology you can't count on anything.

[T Baden]

Only a few Texans such as Sheila Jackson Lee spout hot air; the rest of us simply announce the truth about God’s country in voices loud enough for all to hear!

[topher]

One hope in this particular thread to look at the lighter side of a serious situation.

It might distract people from worrying about friends in the area of impact.

And this is on a day that we remember what happened on 9-11-2001.

This is a very serious situation -- just hope we all can lighter up an relax [when possible].