He is still very powerful and getting very close tp a Category 5!
Outer bands from the big storm arriving on the east coast of Yucatan.
Early Evening specific information:
LOCATION/MOVEMENT
AT 7 pm, CDT, the center of Dean was near latitude 18.2N, longitude 85.1W or about 210 miles east of Chetumal, Mexico. Moving west 20 mph. A west or WNW track is expected for the next 24 hours. This will bring the center of Dean to the east coast of the Yucatan very early Tuesday morning. Conditions are already going downhill there and will steadily worsen.
WINDS/PRESSURE
Hurricane Hunter found that sustained winds reached near 155 mph. Any additional increase will put him into the Category 5 honor society. He is an extremely dangerous hurricane. Pressure has dropped even more and is now at a very low 915 MB or 27.02 inches.
After crossing the Yucatan Peninsula, Mean Dean will emerge in to the SW corner of the Gulf of Mexico (known as the Bay of Campeche) By that time he will be a lot weaker but he will grow stronger again over open water and make another landfall on the Mexican Coast early Wednesday afternoon. The official NHC track forecast marks the landfall far down the Mexican Coast. If that happens, little or no impact on the USA. Inland over the mountains of Central Mexico, Dean will probably set off enormous flash-flooding.
STORM SURGE/RAIN AMOUNTS/FLOODING
A 12 to 18 foot storm surge is expected at landfall on the Yucatan Coast along with large battering waves, especially near and north of the eye. 5 to 10 inches of rain expected with maximum amounts up to 20 inches. This would set off life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.
Scroll down o see the earlier post that included a mapped track forecast.
Another advisory at 10 oclock tonight and we will post a new tracking map then. Meanwhile, we will post occasional spot reports. Already, 30-foot waves reported over the NW Caribbean from a weather buoy..
