Tropical Update: Ike Headed For Cuba as Category 4 Storm

Overnight, Ike roared over the Turks and Caicos and set its sights on the southeastern Bahamas and the northern coast of Cuba as a deadly Category 4 Storm with winds approaching 135 mph. The storm may miss Florida with the exception of the southernmost portion of the Florida Keys on Tuesday, although evacuations have already begun.

Here are the graphics and latest advisories for Ike:

Graphic Courtesy of NHC


Graphic Courtesty of Skeetobite Weather


An Advisory from the NHC concerning the Florida Keys:


THIS STATEMENT DETAILS SPECIFIC PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY ACTIONSTO BE TAKEN IN THE FLORIDA KEYS OF MONROE COUNTY CONCERNING THEEFFECTS OF HURRICANE IKE.
...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NO WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR THEFLORIDA KEYS AND THE SURROUNDING WATERS.
...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS ORDERED A MANDATORYEVACUATION FOR ALL FLORIDA KEYS RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. VISITORSSHOULD LEAVE THE FLORIDA KEYS...AND OFFICIALS SUGGEST RELOCATING TOHOTELS ON THE MAINLAND WELL AWAY FROM COASTAL AREAS. TOLL COLLECTIONHAS BEEN SUSPENDED AT THE CARD SOUND BRIDGE AND ON THE FLORIDATURNPIKE. VISITORS NEEDING TO FIND INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE HOTELS INFLORIDA MAY CALL THE VISIT FLORIDA VISITOR ASSISTANCE HOT LINE AT1-800-287-8598.
GENERAL MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS FOR FLORIDA KEYS RESIDENTS WILLBEGIN TODAY IN THREE PHASES...BEGINNING WITH ALL LOWER KEYSRESIDENTS INCLUDING THE CITY OF KEY WEST AT 8 AM...MIDDLE KEYSRESIDENTS INCLUDING MARATHON AND KEY COLONY BEACH BEGINNING ATNOON...AND FINALLY THE UPPER KEYS RESIDENTS...INCLUDING ISLAMORADAAND OCEAN REEF AT 4 PM. THE EVACUATION WILL CONTINUE THROUGHMONDAY...BEFORE TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE.THE OFFICIAL MONROE COUNTY SHELTER AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONALUNIVERSITY...JUST OFF THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE AT U.S. ROUTE 41...TAMIAMITRAIL...IN MIAMI WILL OPEN AT 8 AM THIS MORNING...BUT WILL NOT ALLOWPETS.
THE CITY OF KEY WEST WILL OPERATE AN EVACUATION SHUTTLE BEGINNING AT8 AM THIS MORNING...FOR RESIDENTS WHO LACK THEIR OWN MEANS OFTRANSPORTATION. THIS SHUTTLE WILL TAKE RESIDENTS TO THE MONROE COUNTYSHELTER IN MIAMI. PICK-UP LOCATIONS IN KEY WEST WILL BE AS FOLLOWS...DOUGLASS GYM IN BAHAMA VILLAGE...KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL...SEARSTOWN ONNORTHSIDE DRIVE...AND BERNSTEIN PARK ON STOCK ISLAND. THE SHUTTLESWILL ALSO PICKUP RESIDENTS AT NORMAL BUS STOP LOCATIONS IN THE LOWERAND MIDDLE KEYS UP THROUGH MARATHON.
DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK...ALONG WITH ALL COUNTY AND STATEPARKS ARE CLOSED. MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAYAND TUESDAY. ALL COUNTY...STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICES WILL BE CLOSEDON MONDAY. THE KEY WEST AND MARATHON AIRPORTS WILL REMAIN OPEN FORALL COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS AND GENERAL AVIATION THROUGH AT LEAST THISEVENING.
...WINDS...
WINDS WILL REMAIN SAFE FOR ALL ROAD TRAVEL THROUGH EARLY MONDAYEVENING. WINDS MAY BECOME UNSAFE FOR TRAVEL MONDAY NIGHT.
...PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS...
FOR KEY WEST...THERE IS A 65 PERCENT CHANCE OF SUSTAINED WINDS39 MPH OR GREATER. THERE IS A 18 PERCENT CHANCE OF SUSTAINEDWINDS 74 MPH OR GREATER.
FOR MARATHON...THERE IS A 60 PERCENT CHANCE OF SUSTAINED WINDS39 MPH OR GREATER. THERE IS A 13 PERCENT CHANCE OF SUSTAINEDWINDS 74 MPH OR GREATER.
FOR MIAMI...THERE IS A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SUSTAINED WINDS39 MPH OR GREATER. THERE IS A 5 PERCENT CHANCE OF SUSTAINED WINDS74 MPH OR GREATER.
...MARINE IMPACTS...
BOAT OWNERS SHOULD FINISH SECURING THEIR VESSELS EARLY THISMORNING...AND BE PREPARED TO EVACUATE STARTING AT 800 AM. THE SNAKECREEK AND THE OLD JEWFISH CREEK DRAWBRIDGES WILL LOCK DOWN AT 800 AM.WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN 15 KNOTS OR LESS THROUGH THIS EVENING.
...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT CONCERNING THE IMPACTS OF HURRICANE IKETO THE FLORIDA KEYS WILL BE ISSUED BY 900 AM...OR SOONER IF NEWINFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.
$$
JACOBSON