It's right on the cusp of being a hurricane. It will probably reach that strength later on. This is going to be a daylong event.
It maintained a course dead center through the Florida Straits, so that's a positive for both Cuba and the Keys.
Even if it weakens to a Category 3, it will still do a lot of damage.
With them sitting well below sea level, this is a potential set up for a catastrophic event that has never been seen before.
Within the local area of Alex itself, wave heights can be in excess of 12 feet. So it's quite rough for shipping in that sense. They need to steer clear.
It's in some pretty warm water in the eastern Gulf and this environment is very favorable for intensification.
It comes down to the complex interplay of these larger-scale systems.
It's going to be a similar track to Dennis, potentially.
People need to be securing property and putting up their hurricane shutters to safeguard their homes.
Farther out, we do anticipate further strengthening up to Category 3, or major hurricane status.
