Sea Surface Temperature Maps:
https://128.160.23.54/products/K10/caribbeank10.gif
(Gulf of Mexico)
http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/data/natlanti.c.gif
(Georgia to Nova Scotia)
If the storm stays over the Gulf Stream it will have no problem strengthening a bit. I believe the water off the East Coast is cooler than average this year but the temps are warm enough to support and strengthen a hurricane.
Agree..the supply of warm water is no problem for Charley. Wind shear, however, is a problem. So far though...still a tight circulation w/ little disorganization (for a storm that has crossed the FL peninsula)...so, I would still bet on some strengthening.
From the maps, it was just over 31 degree C right where it ballooned into Cat 4.
It would be better if the water in question that H. Charley is over or near was all 25 C or less.
Though it is a narrow band of 31 C off GA/SC/NC, it is still extremely warm water and probably the GulfStream.
However, once North of Washington, DC, the water cools significantly (sigh).
Come morning, things will be heating up in terms of the Sun generating energy for the Storm, so this is a bad scenario for SC/NC. It would have better to hit SC/NC now when the temps are low, and the sun is about to come up -- end of the heating cycle -- rather than middle. (last projection was 8PM tomorrow, which is very bad news -- alot of heat generated by that part of the day).
Everything I have seen is that this storm will have no trouble finding water vapor to draw into it.
The earlier prediction of becoming Cat 2 when it hits land may, unfortunately, come true.
I still think prayer is the only answer.
(As well as proper preparation for a Cat 3 -- worse case scenario -- hopefully -- and hope for Cat 1 or less).
