[My Favorite Headache]

Exactly. Sat-speculation is usually off by give or take 15-20 mph. I would not be surprised if it was down to 145. It is going too slow as well. I really see the cold front choking it off and sucking it north.

[dirtboy]

I would imagine that they intitally entered the storm through the SW quadrant where the winds are weakest. After a crew almost got killed flying into Hugo (they didn't realize it was a Cat 5 until they were well into it), they're a bit more cautious on first approach.

The subsequent flight lines would be in stronger sections...