Ike poised to make landfall near Galveston

The 4:00 pm CDT forecast from the National Hurricane Center still shows Ike making landfall near Galveston, Texas around 1:00 am tonight as a category two hurricane with 110 mph winds. Due to Ike's large size, the effects will be far reaching. There have already been some reports of levee failures as far east as Plaquemines and Terrebonne Parishes in southeastern Louisiana. Here are some reports received by the National Weather Service so far:

1. Tropical storm force winds have been reported across much of southern Louisiana, mainly south of Interstate 10. Gusts to tropical storm force have been reported as far inland as Alexandria, Louisiana. The highest gust so far is 69 mph at New Orleasn Lakefront Airport.
2. A three-foot storm surge is flooding some areas along Lake Charles in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
3. An eight-foot storm surge is producing significant inundation in Cameron Parish.
4. A seven-foot storm surge is producing significant inundation in southern Jefferson and Orange Counties in Texas.
5. An eight-foot storm surge along Vermilion Bay has cut off Burns and Cypremort Point. Water is approaching Franklin.
6. A nine-foot storm surge is occurring along Galveston Island.
7. A six-foot storm surge is occurring in Galveston Bay.
8. An eight-foot storm surge is occurring at Freeport, Texas.
9. Strong winds have blown down trees and power lines in the towns of Pumpkin Center, Natalbany, and Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish.
10. A six-foot storm surge was observed at the Port of New Orleans.

So far, the highest wind gust at Jason's Weather Center in Lafayette, Louisiana is 32 mph. The storm total rainfall is 0.29 inches. The lowest recorded pressure is 1000 millibars (29.53 in Hg) and still falling.

I will continue to post updates on this blog whenever I can.