I don't know about other Gulf Coast and Southeastern Coast residents, but this hurricane season has had me on the edge of my seat, most often peering at the National Hurricane Center's forecasts on my computer screen. Other people may have their favorite TV show they just can't miss, but I have become addicted to checking the hurricane forecasts every morning and several times throughout the day.

I have lived in Florida only for a few years, and each year one or two hurricanes spawned, but I can't remember ever being concerned. This year, I find myself alarmed each time the NHC reports a tropical disturbance. Maybe that is because at the beginning of the year, predictions called for an above normal hurricane season - which is proving to be true so far.

I live in an area of Florida where people can't remember the last time it was struck by a hurricane. For that reason, many people are complacent, even going so far as to say, "Everyone knows we can't be hit by a hurricane here. It would have to travel into the Gulf and make a hard right." Well, hurricanes have been known to do stranger things than making hard rights and surprising residents who say it could never happen.

As for me, all bets are off with Hurricane Ike. Forecasters can't agree where it will make landfall, and so as far as I am concerned, that could just as easily be my neck of the woods as anywhere else along the Gulf Coast.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Ike, now a Category 4 storm, is "extremely dangerous." As the hurricane treks across the Bahamas today and continues on to Cuba, forecasters are warning all south Florida residents to monitor the progress of Hurricane Ike - particularly the Florida Keys.

Current forecast models show Ike striking the entire length of Cuba and then exiting north of the Florida Keys where eventual landfall is still anyone's guess. Other models show Ike continuing on to make landfall near the Texas-Mexico border. Ike's final path won't become more clear until next week Tuesday or Wednesday.

Boaters in south Florida should be aware that Hurricane Ike is likely to cause large offshore swells and dangerous rip currents along the coast.