HERE's something you don't see every day!

[OtherHD]

INITIAL 09/2100Z 15.0N 72.5W 130 KT
12HR VT 10/0600Z 16.1N 74.2W 130 KT
24HR VT 10/1800Z 17.5N 76.2W 135 KT
36HR VT 11/0600Z 18.8N 78.0W 130 KT
48HR VT 11/1800Z 19.7N 79.3W 140 KT
72HR VT 12/1800Z 21.5N 81.5W 140 KT
96HR VT 13/1800Z 25.0N 83.0W 115 KT
120HR VT 14/1800Z 28.0N 83.5W 100 KT

I've never seen the NHC bring a storm to Cat 5 in its official forecast. Granted, Ivan's a special case having already been previously classified as a Cat 5, but even with Isabel, it wasn't forecasted to become a 5 again...at least, it wasn't reflected in the official forecast.

[dhweather]

Sounds like the water is warm and the shear is low.

[Josephine96]

Ditto.. Maybe the storm will re-become a Cat 5

[Innotech]

judging by the current looks of Ivan, its probably back up to 155 mph right now.

[canegrl04]

If the NHC is forecasting 140kts,it'll probably actually be higher,as they are notorious for giving intensity forecasts on the conservative side