This is the latest Hurricane Ike advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
The next advisory will be at 2 a.m.
Ike's Position at 11 p.m.
- Position: 23.2 North, 84.3 West
- Distance From Havana: 120 miles west
- Movement: 9 mph west-northwest
- Winds: 80 mph
- Minimum Central Pressure: 967 mb (28.56 inches)
At 11 p.m. EDT, Hurricane Ike is beginning to strengthen again.
At 11 p.m., the government of Cuba has changed the Hurricane Warning to a Tropical Storm Warning for the Cuban provinces of Matanzas, la Habana, Ciudad de Habana, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth.
At 11 p.m., the Tropical Storm Warning for Florida Bay and for the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge is discontinued. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect from west of the Seven Mile Bridge westward to the Dry Tortugas.
For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local weather office.
At 11 p.m., the center of Hurricane Ike was located near latitude 23.2 north, longitude 84.3 west or about 120 miles west of Havana, Cuba.
Ike is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next day or two. Data from a NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph, with higher gusts. Ike is a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Strengthening is expected, and Ike could become a major hurricane in the central Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. Key West recently reported sustained winds of 45 mph, with a gust to 60 mph.
The NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft reported a minimum central pressure of 967 mb or 28.56 inches.
Coastal storm surge flooding and waves along the coasts of Cuba should gradually subside overnight. Storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet, along with large and dangerous waves, are possible in the lower Florida Keys.
Large swells generated by Ike will continue to affect the East Coast of Florida for the next day or so. These swells could generate dangerous and life-threatening rip currents.
Ike is expected to produce 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 accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are possible over the Florida Keys.
Isolated tornadoes and waterspouts are possible over the Florida Keys and extreme South Florida overnight.
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 2 a.m. EDT.
Track Ike's path 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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