Although Hurricane Ike is still only a Category 2 storm, the National Hurricane Center predicts that as the storm's eyewall collapses and it continues over warmer waters, Ike may intensify overnight. Ike could intensify beyond a Category 2 storm, and it is still a large and dangerous storm.
Ike is larger both in terms of its radius of Tropical Storm force winds and Hurricane force winds. According to Jeff Masters at the Weather Underground, Ike's Tropical Storm force winds are 45 miles larger, and its hurricane force winds are 10 miles larger. Not only that, Ike is pushing 10% more water, and forecasters are now predicting between 10 - 15 foot storm surge.
The latest Hurricane Local Statement from the Galveston National Weather Service office says this:
All neighborhoods... and possibly entire coastal communities... will be inundated during high tide. Persons not heeding evacuation orders in single family one or two story homes will face certain death. Many residences of average construction directly on the coast will be destroyed. Widespread and devastating personal property damage is likely elsewhere. Vehicles left behind will likely be swept away. Numerous roads will be swamped... some may be washed away by the water. Entire flood prone coastal communities will be cutoff. Water levels may exceed 9 feet for more than a mile inland. Coastal residents in multi-story facilities risk being cutoff. Conditions will be worsened by battering waves. Such waves will exacerbate property damage... with massive destruction of homes... including those of block construction. Damage from beach erosion could take years to repair.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the residents of Texas who are facing Hurricane Ike.
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