Hurricane Ike is technically a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 100 mph, but in reality he has damage and destruction potential that far exceeds his Saffir-Simpson rating. First, Ike is a massive storm, spanning the the entirety of the Gulf of Mexico from north to south.

Tropical storm force winds extend more than 250 miles from the center of the storm, and even more incredible, hurricane force wind extend over 100 miles out. Ike is throwing out stronger winds, farther from the center than even Katrina did. The storm is also sending huge waves throughout the Gulf. Buoys more than 200 miles from the eye of the storm have reported wave heights over 25 ft. high.

There is an experimental product that NOAA is developing to measure the damage potential of hurricanes. Ironically, it is referred to as IKE because it measures the Integrated Kinetic Energy of the storm. Ike's IKE this morning was computed as the second highest of any storm in the last 40 years! This is due in large part to the size of Ike and how far from center it is still producing strong winds.

Galveston is ground zero
In another odd twist with this storm's name, it appears that Galveston is right in the cross-hairs of the worst Ike has to offer. It didn't dawn on me until today, but this storm shares a name, or at least a nick-name, with the main character of the book Isaac's Storm, which is about the deadliest hurricane in US history. Where did it hit? Galveston.

The storm demolished Galveston in 1900, which, at the time, was a center for high society in the south. The 1900 hurricane came onshore before there was a seawall protecting the low-lying island city. The surge from the Gulf brought in a ton of water, then, on the back side of the storm, Galveston Bay was swept back over the island by strong NW winds. Over 8000 people died in the storm. Once again, I highly recommend the book, especially if hurricanes interest you.

Galveston's seawall runs down the east (right-hand) side of the island

This time around, there is a 17 ft. seawall protecting Galveston from the storm surge. Problem is, Ike may bring a 20 ft.-plus storm surge. Also, if the storm goes just to the south of Galveston, it will get the worst of the storm surge from the Gulf, then it will face the backlash of the Galveston Bay being thrown back at the city by strong west-southwest winds.

Needless to say, Galveston will be all but deserted when Ike arrives. In fact, the entire area has been ordered to evacuate. Check out this map to see how much of the area is evacuated when a Cat. 1 or 2 hurricane makes landfall. Even though Ike is only a Cat. 2, there is still time for him to strengthen before landfall tomorrow night. Making matters worse, it looks like he'll hit closer to high tide than low tide.

Gustav got all the attention Labor Day weekend, but Ike has the potential to do much more damage than Gustav did. The storm may also have a major impact in Houston - a city of 2,000,000. ABC6 is re-opening the Fazzano Files as Jody has been dispatched to Texas to help with the hurricane relief effort after Ike comes ashore.

Ike curls around to head here?
It sounds crazy, but some computer models are suggesting that once Ike moves inland, he will get caught in the jet stream and head northeast, eventually impacting Southern New England. The storm probably wouldn't have much punch left by the time it got here, and certainly wouldn't be a tropical system, but it could bring some rain and wind some time Sunday night or Monday.

Most hurricanes making landfall in the Western Gulf, don't curl all the way around to reach New England with wind and rain. That may not be the case with Ike, and it wasn't the case with the 1900 Galveston Hurricane which managed to deliver wind gusts of 65 mph to New York City three days after landfall in Galveston.

-Fred