9am video for anyone interested. I certainly didn't expect this type of storm. One for the ages for SW Florida no doubt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdnFILp2Ur0
Yeah the more I see that pressure and the completion of the ERC, I think it's actually possible we could still see more intensification. Good grief. If those winds really are expanding, then Marco Island and Goodland aren't far from hurricane force.
The 1919 Hurricane is counted as a 927 mb - 150 mph U.S. Landfall in the Dry Tortugas, so I do believe a landfall would count despite the lack of habitation.
I read a long time ago that it could be a sign of weakening, but then I've seen multiple hurricanes like Michael and Ida have increased lightning right before they rapidly deepen.
Yeah sometimes it hurts (Gustav 2008) but other times it makes no difference (Lili 2002, Charley 2004). It seems that Ian has continued to get better organized. In fact, the symmetry looks better than it did 6-8 hours ago.
118
WTNT64 KNHC 270631
TCUAT4
Hurricane Ian Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092022
230 AM EDT Tue Sep 27 2022
...IAN BECOMES A MAJOR HURRICANE...
...EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL OVER WESTERN CUBA SOON...
Earlier aircraft and more recent satellite data indicate that Ian
has continued to strengthen. The maximum winds are now estimated to
be 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts.
SUMMARY OF 230 AM EDT...0630 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...21.9N 83.6W
ABOUT 35 MI...55 KM S OF THE CITY OF PINAR DEL RIO CUBA
ABOUT 85 MI...135 KM E OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...115 MPH...185 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 345 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...956 MB...28.23 INCHES
$$
Forecaster Latto/Brown
I'd rather it become a Cat 4 now and weaken rather than take two days and peak right before landfall. That's what happened with Hurricane Michael. He screwed around so much taking his sweet old time being sheared that by the time he intensified, it was too late to weaken before landfall.