Hurricane Ike's Track and Path Projections: Latest Updates

Hurricane Ike has been shifting its sights further and further west compared to its originally projected path. The National Hurricane Center's 5 day track now shows Hurricane Ike slamming directly into the Texas Coast somewhere near Corpus Christi. If Hurricane Ike follows this track, the entire Texas coast from Brownsville in the South to Port Arthur in the North would be at risk from the winds, rain or storm surge depending upon the specific location.

Spaghetti Models

Of eight so-called spaghetti models, TV Station Fox13 shows that four put the track almost directly through Port Lavaca. With two of the computer models showing a track to the north near Freeport and the remaining two spaghetti models tracking south as far as Kingsville, the entire Texas gulf coast region remains at risk. The bays of this region of the Texas coastline can serve to funnel the waters of the storm surge, causing it to retain most of its height farther inland. Residents near these bays and rivers should prepare an evacuation plan in the event that local emergency officials call for them to leave before the arrival of Hurricane Ike. Current path projections show Ike making landfall in Texas late Friday.

Hurricane Ike Kills at Least Four in Cuba

Reuters reported on Tuesday that at least four were dead as Hurricane Ike's track took it over Cuba a second time. Power outages, and significant damage was reported as the winds tore across the island. The second Cuban landfall, slowed Hurricane Ike's powerful winds and reduced it to a category 1 hurricane, but Ike is expected to regain strength as it churns across the Gulf of Mexico toward the Texas coast. Current hurricane projections call for Ike to increase strength to a category 3 storm with winds of over 115 miles per hour before it makes landfall in the United States.

Hurricane Ike's Projected Path Includes Major Texas Cities

After it makes landfall, Hurricane Ike's path projections carry it near San Antonio and Austin. By Saturday afternoon, these cities may be experiencing tropical storm force winds of an estimated 70 miles per hour. Hurricane Ike is expected to track to the North after that, continuing to weaken with each hour spent away from the sustaining energy of the gulf waters. Flash flooding can be expected as the remnants of Hurricane Ike drop torrential rains as its path carries it across Texas over the week-end.