Tropical Storm Dean continues to churn westward across the Atlantic and appears destined to be the season’s first Atlantic Hurricane. A recon flight is scheduled for tommorrow. The satellite imagery has Dean looking good, albeit with some “pacific” characteristics, but the shear is lessening as he moves into warmer waters. Early (and at this point unreliable) indications have this system entering the Gulf of Mexico. If I had to hazard a guess, I would put landfall somewhere between Texas and the MS/AL border. That guess is really based on Dean’s track being somewhat similar to Frederick. Anyone from the East Coast to the Gulf Coast should watch this. Predictions as far out as 10 days are next to impossible, so at this point my advice would be to check your supplies and keep an eye on the storm.
Hurricane Flossie is starting to weaken and looks to miss the Hawiian islands by a couple of hundred miles to the south.
Invest 91L in the Western Carribean is still showing signs of life, and still seems destined to become Tropical Depression Five and possible T.S. Erin before making landfall in Texas.