[AntiGuv]

Is it my imagination, or does Ivan look as if he's actually strengthening?

[Dog Gone]

It's not your imagination. The eye is more defined and the radar is more intense. Ivan is strengthening.

[nwctwx]

000
URNT12 KNHC 151611
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE
A. 15/1612Z
B. 27 DEG 31 MIN N
88 DEG 10 MIN W
C. 700 MB 2577 M
D. NA
E. NA
F. 290 DEG 98 KT
G. 188 DEG 014 NM
H. 939 MB
I. 11 C/ 3091 M
J. 19 C/ 3074 M
K. 13 C/ NA
L. CLOSED
M. C40
N. 12345/7
O. 0.1/3.0 NM
P. AF963 4009A IVAN OB 10
MAX FL WIND 123 KT SE QUAD 1427Z.

New Recon back to 939mb, Ivan is sitting over that ultra-warm spot now and shear is basically gone.

[rwfromkansas]

Clear and obvious strengthening as it goes over the warm water eddy. This will def be cat 3 at landfall......LIKELY cat 4.

The NHC says there will be increasing shear just prior to landfall to weaken it a tad, but the shear maps I have looked at show no such evidence....NHC wishful thinking.

[No Blue States]

The eye seems better defined. In past days the Red has made a couple loop around the eye when Ivan was a 5. Its good to not see that yet.

Looks like he is shedding a big blob of energy toward the FL panhandle.

[gopwinsin04]

Its heading straight for Hattiesburg, not east..