Irene has woken up and is seeing clearly

[wxman57]

Yep, saw it forming at 9am. Here's a recent mcidas image:

http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/irene103.gif

[wxwatcher91]

eh darn the eye has cooled off...

Irene probably hit a warm eddy... organized, then died lol

[djtil]

i think she has some SLEEP in her eye this afternoon.

[wxwatcher91]

gotta make this fast- big thunderstorm comin...

72kts reported at FL from recon!

[wxman57]

Here's a new eye picture. Still a bit cloudy, but getting more visible. Convection increasing around eye. I'm not sure if surface winds have hit 65 kts yet.

http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/irene104.gif

[otowntiger]

does anyone else audibly grown at every take on the "eye" cleverness when it comes to post subjects?

Yes. Well actually I groan, but I know what you mean!

[jkt21787]

FYI, NHC is keeping it as a TS on the 5pm advisory.

[wxwatcher91]

forecast to reach hurricane intensity tonight or tomorrow

...it had better lol

it hasnt reached the Gulf Stream yet

[deltadog03]

someone better be on our side if something gets into the gulf

[wxman57]

does anyone else audibly grown at every take on the "eye" cleverness when it comes to post subjects?

Yes, EYE do!

[Sanibel]

it hasnt reached the Gulf Stream yet

If you look at your SST map it shows Irene drawing inflow surrounded on three sides by the Gulf Stream. It's not just the center that needs to be over the Stream. The main inflow is from the Gulf Stream side on the SW...