This won't be as intense as Charlie if it hits south of Sarasota, since the Gulf water temps are now cooler, some 10 degrees cooler than when Katrina moved through. All the Cat4-5 talk is media hype as far as the US is concerned, this storm will not be any more than a weak Cat-3 at landfall, with a tiny eye IMHO.
"What I found this evening, using the Navy's altimetry derived SST's -- is that the water temps on the surface of the ocean are actually a couple of degrees cooler than just below surface layer!. The mid mid fall temp fall off in water temps begins at the surface of course, but because it has only just begun, temps are 1-2deg warmer about 10-50 meters below the surface! This is rather ironic, in that it assures the slow moving storm will at first be upwelling WARMER Water! Normally, upwelling results in colder, sub-surface water being drawn upwards."
Thank you .. I fear my son's old house in Sarasota would not survive a Cat 5. Prayers for protection for all affected.