But seriously . . . here's the latest forecast. Y'all take care down there!
"POSTED: July 7, 2005 8:19 p.m.
DENNIS IS NOW A DANGEROUS CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 130 MPH AND IS HEADING FOR CUBA
As of 8:00 PM EDT, Hurricane Dennis was centered at 19.4 north, 77.1 west, or about 135 southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 130 mph, with higher gusts. The estimated central pressure is 951 mb (28.08 inches). This makes Dennis a strong Category 3 hurricane. If Dennis increases any more it will become a category 4 hurricane. Dennis is moving toward the northwest at 15 mph. Dennis should remain on this course over the next 24-48 hours.
A HURRICANE WARNING IS ISSUED FOR THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS FROM THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE WESTWARD TO THE DRY TORTUGAS...AND A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS ISSUED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLORIDA KEYS...EAST OF THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO OCEAN REEF AND FLORIDA BAY. A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS EAST OF THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO OCEAN REEF AND FLORIDA BAY. A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PROVINCES OF MATANZAS... VILLA CLARA... CIENFUEGOS...SANCTI SPIRITUS...CIEGO DE AVILA... CAMAGUEY...LAS TUNAS...GRANMA...SANTIAGO DE CUBA...AND GUANTANAMO. A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE REMAINING PROVINCES OF CUBA INCLUDING THE ISLE OF YOUTH...PINAR DEL RIO...LA HABANA... CIUDAD DE LA HABANA...AND HOLGUIN. Very stormy conditions, including life-threatening flash flooding is imminent for most of central and eastern Cuba.
We expect Dennis to track over the central and western part of Cuba Friday afternoon and early Friday night, and end up in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, later Friday night. All U.S. interests, from the Florida Keys and the Florida west coast, all the way to the Louisiana coast, should closely monitor the progress of this strengthening hurricane. As of now, we believe Dennis will head for the central or eastern Gulf coast. Current thinking is over the western Florida panhandle. However, there continues to be different ideas on the exact track. The interaction with the higher terrain of Cuba could alter the hurricane's structure and cause to to react differently to the steering currents. The upper level high pressure ridge has weakened over Florida and the eastern Gulf while a strong upper level disturbance is now diving into eastern Texas. This will help to maintain a weakness in the upper level wind flow over the central Gulf and Dennis will turn northward ahead of this weakness. If the Atlantic high pressure ridge fails to build further west Dennis could track close to the west coast of Florida. If the upper level high pressure ridge builds stronger to the west the Dennis will be diverted more toward eastern Louisiana.
On a historical note, this is the earliest in the Atlantic hurricane season that the "D" named storm has been reached. In no other season, back through the time in which records have been kept, have there been four named storms by this early date."
More here:
http://hurricane.accuweather.com/hurricane/regions.asp?site=ATL
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