http://www.bahamas-travel.org/grand-bahama-hurricane-season/
A summary of Hurricane Ike
Ike forms in Atlantic Ocean
Hurricane Ike began as a tropical wave off the coast of Africa around August 29, 2008. A few days later, on September 1 had become the ninth tropical depression of the
The hurricane season tropical storm Ike was classified later in the day. Ike underwent rapid deepening on September 3 in the morning of day 4. He had reached Category 4 intensity scale Saffir-Simpson, 140 kilometers per hour. Shortly after this, northerly wind shear began to take its toll and weaken it north of the Leeward Islands.
Ike moves into the Islands
Ike underwent another phase restrengthening as it moved west southwest into the Turks and Caicos and southern Bahamas. Grand Turk was in the eye wall and the north of Great Inagua, Bahamas received a direct hit. damage produced considerable over these locations, with preliminary estimates showing 80% of the homes on Grand Turk to receive some damage. Ike continued toward Cuba to play land on the northeast coast of Cuba. It crossed Cuba and turned more west northwest, just off its southern coast. After this, Ike to make landfall in the Western country near where Hurricane Gustav made landfall not long before.
Ike began to strengthen immediately after arriving in the southern Gulf of Mexico. The Keys received some flooding, storms and weather had reported an isolated tornado. In a similar fashion to Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike had very low barometric pressure in the central Gulf of Mexico, but did not strengthen significantly. The dry air on the western side of the hurricane from strengthening remained up just before landfall.
Ike slams into Texas
High storm tides flooded the upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coast twenty four hours before landfall. storm surge of 10-15 feet were common in these areas. Ike made landfall on September 13 at 2:10 AM CDT at Galveston, TX. Even though Ike was classified as a category two hurricane with winds of 110 mph, very few gusts over 100 mph were recorded in the land. Winds above a few hundred feet in the field are much higher, however, and damaged many windows to the skyscrapers of Houston. Rainfall totals of about ten inches were reported in Houston. Heavy rains continued in the middle of the U.S. as Ike merged with a cold front. Everything was about four and a half million people at the height of the hurricane.
Summary
In summary, Ike was a major hurricane. Its tropical storm force wind field extended than that of Katrina. In the central Gulf of Mexico, winds of tropical storm strength or more extended 275 miles from the center. Not only the effects of Ike were felt on the coast, but extended well inland. Wind damage and / or flooding rains followed the path of Ike in the south of the Great Lakes Valley Ohio and New England. Rainfall totals of ten inches or more were recorded in the southern Great Lakes. Power outages were also common wind damage to the north and the Ohio Valley. After damage estimates are finished, Ike is likely to become one of the costliest hurricanes of all time to hit the U.S..
About the Author
Rich is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist with 25 years of weather forecasting and television experience. Visit his website for more on expert hurricane forecasts and travel resources.
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