[RavenATB]

I don't claim any expertise in this arena, but after living in FL for the past two years, and evacuating twice (Ivan and Dennis), I've heard so much about how the warm gulf waters will feed a hurricane to make it stronger. As I look at the current satellite maps of the water temperature (surface) in the gulf, the water doesn't look too darned warm. Up here in the panhandle the charts look as if the water is in the high 60s. If that storm heads more northerly than currently predicted wouldn't one expect it to weaken as it progresses into the colder water?

[steveegg]

I don't claim any expertise in this arena, but after living in FL for the past two years, and evacuating twice (Ivan and Dennis), I've heard so much about how the warm gulf waters will feed a hurricane to make it stronger. As I look at the current satellite maps of the water temperature (surface) in the gulf, the water doesn't look too darned warm. Up here in the panhandle the charts look as if the water is in the high 60s. If that storm heads more northerly than currently predicted wouldn't one expect it to weaken as it progresses into the colder water?

That's the recent thinking. Also, as we saw with Rita and Katrina, storms that blow up this quickly lose steam almost as quickly.

One difference between Wilma and her sisters; there's a landmass between her and the US that will take a lot of the water being pushed by her. That's bad news for Cuba, which is that landmass.