He is now over the warm water of the Bay of Campeche and visibile satellite loops look quite impressive.
Especially so, since the lowering sun angle gives Dean a 3-D look.
But this is not a beauty contest, so lets get down to basics:
LOCATION/MOVEMENT
At 7 pm, the center of Dean was near Latiude 19.7N, Longitude 92.2W or about 110 miles west of Campeche, Mexico and about 345 miles east of Tuxpan, Mexicio. Movement was between west and WNW at 20 mph. This rate of movement has been very consistent. and this speed and direction is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. Dean is forecast to be very near the coast of Central Mexico during the day Wednesday.
WINDS/PRESSURE
Highest sustained winds remain near 80 mph with higher gusts so he is still Category One. He may grow stronger over water tonight and part of Wednesday. An Air Force plane was approaching him at 7 this evening. The central pressure was 970 MB or 28.64 inches.
STORM SURGE/RAIN AMOUNTS
Storm surge flooding of 6 to 8 feet above normal tide levels is possible. Big dangerous battering waves, too, along the coast of Mexico within the hurricane warning area. 5 to 10 inches of rain over parts of South and Central Mexico and Guatemala with peak amounts as much as 20 inches. Yep, all this could set off major flash-flooding (life-threatening) and mudslides
USA IMPACTS
Very little, although spinoff moisture to the north could cause some 1 to 2 inch rain amounts to South Texas.
SPOT REPORTS
Cancun…82 degrees, cloudy, wind SE 20 (much calmer over on the east side of Yucatan)
Buoy 42885/Bay of Campeche…wind NNE 27, gusts 35, 7 foot waves, water temperature 85.3
FINAL NOTES
* After making his second landfall, Dean will weaken but even after he gets demoted to a Tropical Depression, he can still dump enormous amounts of rain especially in the mountain country of Mexico.
* Dean has been fairly unusual because he took a very straight path from Africa to Mexico, sort of a hurricane expressway. His forward speed was consistent also almost like he was using his automatic speed control.
Next update at 10 tonight.
