Eye offshore in 1 hour ...

[Hyperstorm]

The eye should be heading offshore in about 1 hour. Starting then, I will expect to see some rather explosive deepening until about landfall in the Tampa Bay area or even slightly south near the Sarasota area.

The system seems to be near the longitude of Tampa and shouldn't make it much further west, so it looks like points north of Tampa might be in the clear from the BRUNT of the storm. Don't let your guard down just yet, though. Orlando might get worse conditions than earlier expected.

Disastrous situation setting up for Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota-Ft. Myers areas.........

[Matthew5]

I agree this thing is going to bomb like you never seen! 135 mph at landfall

[Anonymous]

I agree. It looks like the radar is really lighting up now and the storm is still over land. I hope everyone has left the risk areas or is in shelters! I am also very worried about the entire East Coast especially if the storm dips into the Gulf Stream. It has been a long time since a powerful storm moved 30 mph up the coast.

[weatherSnoop]

Matthew
Nooooooooooo, PLEASE....Oh wait, I meant AArrrrrrrrgggggg

[Matthew5]

This is not a wishcast this very well could happen. The system is holding a very small well developed eye. In is still holding together over land. Once this thing moves over the 85 to 90 degree Gulf of Mexico. This could very well become something big!

[Dmetal81]

I hate to do it, but I have to agree, every indication is pointing to a small period of explosive development, hes cleared the ULL for the most part, the front is still having little impact, shear looks fairly minimal, and its about to move into the warmest waters its been over yet. This could turn from bad to worse

[frankthetank]

heres a link to the Dry Tortugas....Charley should come close...should get pretty interesting in a few hours....



http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=dryf1

[weatherSnoop]

That was just a little prayer(desparate denial perhaps)...never meant to insinuate that you were -removed-...

[Anonymous]

I dont think the eye will get anywhere near the Keys. Still believe it will pass right over or near Tampa Bay.

Im also surprised at how little the passage over Cuba affected Charley. Not only does he still have his eye, he has formed deeper convection around it.

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT ... /BD/20.jpg

[rtd2]

WAIT....hold the 135 doomsday! Yes this storm will be bad but 135 and up starts to change the whole aspect of things I mean every system given the opprotunity doesnt make it to cat4 and of course cat5(holy grail) is even more rare...NOT ruling it out but this is a solidcat 2 storm but the storm aint got the strong cat 3 or up look about it! PLUS I havent seen ONE model that tkes this storm to a cat 4 and whats the SST'S of the coast vs right at the coast? cooler?

[Anonymous]

I dont think itll be a Cat 4, but it would be foolish to assume that it wouldnt for certain make it to a moderate Cat 3. It still has water to travel over, and it hasnt weakened while passing over Cuba.

[tallywx]

That the eye and eyewall have held practically intact in crossing Cuba is very foreboding...the moment of truth is over the next few hours.

[Anonymous]

The NHC is forecasting a Cat 3.

[tallywx]

The crossing has occurred so quickly...probably 1 1/2 hours total over land.

[Hyperstorm]

The NHC is forecasting a Cat 3.

120mph OR probably more...

[Hyperstorm]

The crossing has occurred so quickly...probably 1 1/2 hours total over land.

2 hours...really fast.

[PTrackerLA]

According to satellite and radar, the eye is just now making it's way offshore. The feeder bands look like they're on the increase too, not a good sign.

[Anonymous]

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/radar/loop/DS.p ... kbyx.shtml

Radar suggests in another hour or less itll be emerging. Is it just me, or does it look terrifying on radar?

[Anonymous]

It moved over the land very quickly. I wonder if it is starting to accelerate. On the Tampa Bay live site mentioned in another thread ( http://www.wtsp.com/news/live.asp ) they were reporting some people planning on living in the AM. I don't know if that will be so easy -- there is already a heavy band south of them moving rapidly north. They should leave now and not wait.

[slosh]

How soon after it emerges might we see intensification?