The fuse has been lit...

[johngaltfla]

I have to agree. This storm could be a 920 mb storm by this time tommorrow. With plenty of real estate to intensify further.

Godspeed to all in it's path.

[thunderchief]

anyone know what hurricane had cat 5 status the longest?

I believe that would be Ivan. ivan went through numerous ERCs and fluctated between 5 and 4 for many days. It spent about 2 full days, combined, as a 5.

[canegrl04]

How ironic that a hurricane with a dainty name is set to do monsterous destruction

[LSU2001]

[rockyman]

She's awake!

[Scorpion]

Lookin mighty fine

[inotherwords]

Let's pray for some dry air or some shear. Is it even a possibility? I've been to New Orleans in the summer, and the concept of "dry air" this time of year is not very realistic down at ground level. But if we're talking at high altitudes...?

I'm just hoping for something that slows this monster down.

[Sanibel]

Katrina is doing the classic heavy band curls of a storm about to muscle up to high intensity.

A large, wide, powerful storm with a wide windfield.


Will be easier to track when the eye pops out.

Storm is 115mph before forming its eye for the final strengthening run...

[johngaltfla]

Katrina is doing the classic heavy band curls of a storm about to muscle up to high intensity.

A large, wide, powerful storm with a wide windfield.


Will be easier to track when the eye pops out.

Storm is 115mph before forming its eye for the final strengthening run...

Yup. When that new eyewall finishes closing, all hell will break loose. I think we'll see some 10 mb drops in a very, very short time period....

[jwayne]

back from dinner. See that she is right on schedule. Next 6 hours should be big drop in pressure and cat 4 is on the way soon.

[Eyes2theSkies]

she may also have enough time to complete one more ERC before she makes landfall

[wxmann_91]

I'd say a weak cat 4 by the time midnight comes around, or it may not hit cat 4 status until the early morning hours. Eyewall replacement cycles take time.

but to be honest with you, it's better if it strengthens sooner because they say there's a good cance of ANOTHER eyewall replacement cycle tomorrow night or early Monday which would weaken it a bit more before it hits land, so let's get the strengthening out of the way, because historically, hurricanes have a hard time maintainting cat 4/cat 5 status over a certain chunk of time

Storms like Allen, Edouard, Frances, and Ivan didn't have a tough time maintaining it. Why? SIZE is the difference. And because this is big fat storm if it gets to Cat 4 then it will have a tough time of going back down until it hits land.

[wxmann_91]

back from dinner. See that she is right on schedule. Next 6 hours should be big drop in pressure and cat 4 is on the way soon.

I'm sorry but I have to say that it will take a bit more time because of its size. But it will happen unless ERC's happen too many times.

[jwayne]

eye is reappearing now. midnight was my call for cat 4, and it's going to be close. by pressure alone, it's practically already there.

[joseph01]

eye is reappearing now. midnight was my call for cat 4, and it's going to be close. by pressure alone, it's practically already there.

It doesn't surprise me. Looking at the last frame in the IR and WV floaters, look how smooth the definition has become, all of a sudden.

[jwayne]

now down to 939 and falling. Windriver, I'll be waiting on that apology. Don't attack folks without doing the analysis first.

[loon]

It was Winrunner, however few ever come back to older threads and remember what they said much less what anyone else said, especially during busy times, so, I thought I'd atleast drop a line saying I do remember you saying it early when this thread started. Good luck with that apology..

cheers,
loon