Ike could hit TX as Cat.4 Hurricane

[imported_elp6n]

Mandatory evacuations being ordered.
Let's hope it fizzles out a good deal instead, like Gustav did.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/0...ike/index.html

But we can't leave out the most important... it is Texas after all:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Perhaps more important to many in Texas, dozens of high school football games in cities and towns along the coast were rescheduled from Friday to Thursday night to avoid playing in the storm, CNN affiliate KGBT-TV reported.</div></div>

[beamer_ball]

Expected to possibly reach Cat. 3, or be close enough, status before landfall, still could be even stronger though (just not as likely now).

Some are saying Ike poses a danger in that area not seen since Alicia, in 1983, or maybe Carla, in 1961.

A lot of people apparently deciding to ride this one out. I certainly like the prospects of a 20 foot storm surge with 30+ foot waves..yeah, haha. Saw one guy say he was going to stay on one of the island's and ride it out, sit back with a beer and relax. He probably had already had one too many to drink, lol.

[sup-rbeast]

Rita was a category 5 and refineries were running 2 days later...Ike will prolly be nothing close to 4...more like a 3 that peters out in no time.

[beamer_ball]

I believe they're speaking in terms of the storm surge threat to places like Galveston (or for any that end up on the eastern side). Ike is much larger than most and has moved a lot of water. Its going to produce a water rise that of a much stronger hurricane and affect more with its size. They've already seen a bit of water rise well ahead of it.