As of  this morning NZT Ike was located very near Palestine, Texas, with maximum sustained winds at 100km/h.  It is now been downgraded to a tropical storm.  Ike was a hurricane for 9 days and 21 hours..

Tropical storm conditions are being felt anywhere from Houston/Galvston east to Beaumont and Lake Charles and north to Tyler, Texas.

There are numerous wind reports, surge reports, and damage reports coming in to weather.com.

Skyscrapers endured higher winds this morning than compared to the street level because of their elevation. Windows have been blown out in several of these very tall buildings throughout downtown Houston.

A very preliminary look tells us that water level rise forecasts did not reach their predicted levels, however, there was still considerable coastal flooding due to surge.

Final official measurements will be investigated during the next few days. It is possible that higher surge levels could be discovered when the surveys are completed especially along the west side of Galveston Bay.

Here’s a quick glance at some of the highest surge levels:
Sabine Pass, Texas – 14.24 feet
Lake Charles, Louisiana – 10-12 feet
Galveston, Texas – 9-11 feet
West side of Galveston Bay – early estimation of 14-18 feet

The main reason behind the lower than forecast totals can mainly be attributed to a landfall just slightly farther east along Galveston Island. This did not allow for a pure southeast trajectory of winds channeling into Galveston Bay.

This is the final update on IKE here at the Weather Watch Centre – for more news go to weather.com

 

For more news from earlier today…click “Read More”

Ike made landfall at 2:10 a.m. CDT at Galveston, Texas, with maximum sustained winds near 180km/h. Its minimum pressure was 951.6 hPa, reported by the barometer at the Galveston Pleasure Pier when the center passed overhead.

Ike remains a high-end Category 2 hurricane. The estimated minimum pressure is 954 millibars.

Hurricane conditions are being reported anywhere from Freeport, Texas to Sabine Pass, Texas. There are numerous wind reports, surge reports, and damage reports coming in to weather.com.

The worst weather conditions are now occurring along the upper Texas coast, the western shores of Galveston Bay and southwestern Louisiana. The southern eyewall has reached the coast, with the center coming out of Galveston Bay.

Metro Houston will continue to face a wicked blow from Ike this morning. Aside from the coastal flooding on the southeast side of the city along the western bay, Houston will deal with sustained tropical storm-force winds with numerous gusts to hurricane force.

Skyscrapers will endure even higher winds than compared to the surface because of their elevation. There is a good chance that windows will be blown out in many of these very tall buildings throughout downtown Houston.

As Ike continues inland, life threatening flooding rains and potentially damaging winds will spread inland across Texas.

As Ike weakens Sunday/Monday, the flooding rains will shift into eastern Oklahoma, northern Arkansas, southeast Kansas, central and southern Missouri and southern Illinois.

CURRENTLY…

 

What are your thoughts on Hurricane Ike?  Where will he strike?  Have you ever experienced a hurricane or tropical cyclone?  Post your comments below!