This is the latest Hurricane Ike advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
The next advisory will be at 5 a.m.
MIAMI -- Evacuations are beginning along parts of theTexas coast.
Hurricane Ike is expected to come ashore early Saturday somewhere between Corpus Christi and Houston.
It's packing winds of nearly 100 miles an hour and is expected to strengthen. Many of the nation's refineries and chemical plants are in the
storm's line of fire.
Ike's Position at 2 a.m.
- Position: 25.0 north, 87.2 west
- Distance From Brownsville: Texas: 305 miles south-southwest
- Movement: 9 mph west-northwest
- Winds: 100 mph
- Minimum Central Pressure: 946 (27.94)
2 a.m. Hurricane Ike Advisory
Large Hurricane Ike moving west-northwestward over the east-central Gulf of Mexico.
A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River westward to east of Cameron Louisiana. A Tropical
Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected
within the warning area within the next 24 hours.
A Hurricane Watch remains in effect from Cameron Louisiana westward
To Port Mansfield Texas. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane
conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36
hours.
At 2 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Ike was located near latitude 25.0 north longitude 87.2 west or about 645 miles east of Brownsville Texas and about 305 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Ike is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph. A general west-northwestward motion over the central and western Gulf of Mexico is expected today and Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph with higher gusts. Ike is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Although fluctuations in strength are possible during the next couple of days gradual strengthening is forecast during this period and Ike could become a major hurricane today or on Friday.
Ike is a large tropical cyclone. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.
The minimum central pressure estimated from Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft observations was 946 mb, or 27.94 inches.
Coastal storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels along with large and dangerous battering waves can be expected within the Tropical Storm Warning area. Above normal tides of 2 to 4 feet are expected elsewhere along much of the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico during the next day or so, but will be increasing along the western Gulf Coast as Ike approaches.
Ike is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches over western Cuba with isolated maximum amounts of up to 20 inches possible. These rains are likely to cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides over mountainous terrain. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible over extreme southern Louisiana. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible over the northern Yucatan Peninsula.
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 5 a.m. EDT.
Track the path of Ike with our Hurricane Tracker and downloadable map, available at the News 13 Hurricane Center.
Need help getting ready for a hurricane? News 13 on Demand, Bright House Networks Digital Cable Channel 313, has a Hurricane Center filled with vital information on what you can do to prepare for a storm. In the Severe Weather section, News 13's meteorologists show you how to be safe when a storm strikes.
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