Dean Heading For Yucatan, Possible New Storm

Update - 8:54pm ET Hurricane Dean Now A Category 5 -160mph

Hurricane Dean now a very dangerous category 5 hurricane now with winds of 160mph. The National Hurricane just upgraded Dean after new flight recon data. This could be a catastrophic event overnight and we wish everyone in the Yucatan the best.

DATA FROM THE AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING HURRICANE DEAN INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO 160 MPH…MAKING DEAN A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE.

Update - 6:47pm ET Jamaica Aftermath Incoming Video

I know most of you have been waiting to see what Jim Edds might have for us as he was touring area’s much of the day in Jamaica. I just received a call from him and he said he has been out all day with Jamaican officials, shooting scenes from some of the harder hit area’s along the south coast and Kingston Airport, which is located on a barrier island. He is feeding video in over the next hour or two and I’ll get a copy of that up here on the hurricane blog as soon as possible this evening.

As for Major Hurricane Dean this evening, he continues to be a very impressive category 4 and still could reach category 5 status before reaching the Yucatan coastline late tonight. It’s going to be a long night for those living in the direct path of Dean tonight. It’s much harder to go through a major hurricane at night in the dark, been there and done that, and it’s not fun. I’m trying to contact some people that are in the area and will update here if I hear anything during the overnight hours.

More Jamaica day after video coming this evening…stay tuned!

Hurricane Dean has come and gone in Jamaica and continues to head west towards the Yucatan Peninsula. Storm Chaser Jim Edds will be touring and filming area’s of the island today as first light gives way to yesterdays storm damage. I Expect some updates from by early afternoon, so be sure to check back. You can view video already sent in by Jim in the blog posts below.

Major Hurricane Dean continues it’s Caribbean track and now heading for the central Yucatan coast as a possible category 5. Right now Dean remains a dangerous category 4 hurricane with winds of 150mph. Some strengthening is possible later today before reaching the Mexican coastline. I’ll be continuing to monitor Dean and the landfall in the Yucatan late tonight. Stay tuned!

More Tropical Weather Troubles?

As seen in the above satellite graphic, there is a new area of tropical development interest northeast of the Leeward Islands. Some of the computer models develop this into a tropical storm and move it westward towards the Bahamas and even Florida late this week. The was been deep convection much of the overnight hours and still pretty widespread this morning. This area will need to be watched closely over the next few days, especially if you live in Florida and the Gulf. The same high pressure ridge that forced Dean to stay on a westerly track, would to the same with this system. More on this later tonight and as things develop, if any.