Hurricane Dean

Saturday, 7am eastern update:

NOAA has released the latest info on hurricane Dean. Dean is currently a Category 4 hurricane sitting approximately 600 miles to the south southeast of Jamaica. Dean is moving to the west at 17 MPH. Despite having weakened overnight, hurricane Dean still packs sustained winds of over 150 MPH.

The updated storm path has Dean's eye passing just south of Jamaica then continuing on just south of Grand Cayman before blowing west towards Cancun.

Hurricane Dean Jamaica If the storm sustains or strengthens its 150 MPH winds, Jamaica and the Caymans will likely face the most dangerous hurricanes in Caribbean history.

The most dangerous storm in history was 1988's hurricane Gilbert. Eerily, Gilbert traveled almost the exact same path as Dean. Gilbert's 135 MPH winds gained strength after slamming into Jamaica and killed 315 people, mostly in Mexico. 45 people were killed in Jamaica.

Dean News from around the Caribbean:

Dean is blamed for three deaths in Martinique, St. Lucia and Dominica (flooded boats in a harbor in Martinique pictured above).

From BBC: Haiti, Dominican Republic and Jamaica prepare for Dean.

Jamaican government prepares for "impending natural disaster".

Grand Cayman prepares for "direct hit". While Cayman Airways adds 15 extra flights out of Georgetown.

Watch a YouTube video of Dean's huge waves off of Antigua:

Stay tuned to NOAA: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

At 5 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Dean was located near latitude 14.3 north, longitude 60.9 west, in the St. Lucia channel between St. Lucia and Martinique.

Dean is moving toward the west near 24 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue with some decrease in forward speed during the next 24 hours. This motion should take the center of Dean away from the Lesser Antilles later today.

Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph, with higher gusts. Dean is a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Stronger winds -- especially in gusts -- are likely over elevated terrain near the path of the center. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 976 mb, or 28.82 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels, accompanied by large and dangerous battering waves, is possible near the center of Dean.

Storm total rainfall of 2 to 5 inches...with isolated maximum amounts of 10 inches in mountainous areas...are possible in association with Dean in the Lesser Antilles. Across Puerto Rico, storm total amounts of 1 to 2 inches can be expected with maximum amounts of up to 5 inches. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica nd Guadeloupe and its dependencies. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

At 5 a.m. EDT, the meteorological service of Antigua has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the British Virgin Islands. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. A Tropical Storm Warning also remains in effect for the following islands of the Lesser Antilles: Grenada and its dependencies, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Barbados, Saba, St. Eustatius, Montserrat, Antigua, Nevis, St. Kitts, Barbuda, St. Maarten and Anguilla. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.

At 5 a.m. EDT, a tropical storm watch is in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from Port-au-Prince to the Haiti/Dominican Republic border. A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the South Coast of the Dominican Republic from Caboengano to the Haiti/Dominican Republic border. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area -- generally within 36 hours.

An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 8 a.m. EDT, followed by the next complete advisory at 11 a.m. EDT.

Saturday August 18, 2007 update on Hurricane Dean

read also :All eyes watching Dean's path
Bush Radio Aug. 19, 2007

Video Weather:

Saturday August 18, 2007 update on Hurricane Dean

read also :All eyes watching Dean's path Bush Radio Aug. 19, 2007

Video Weather:

read also :All eyes watching Dean's path
Bush Radio Aug. 19, 2007