Update: Fred Weakens

Satellite analysis shows Hurricane Fred has weakened slightly this afternoon. Maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour. The north and west side of the hurricane are running into some wind shear, and it appears the shear will only increase on the path the storm is headed.

-Dawn Brown

HURRICANE Fred

Fred strengthened into a major hurricane with 120 mile winds overnight, becoming the second major hurricane of the 2009 season behind Hurricane Bill. However, this storm is not expected to get close the US mainland, instead taking a northerly course to the middle of the Atlantic. Satellite images show a well defined eye, as the storm passes over warm water and low wind shear. Wind shear has played a huge part in the lack of storms this year, as the shear tends to cut of the tops of developing storms. This storm currently has a healthy outflow (all those light wispy clouds moving out away from the storm), and right now, there’s nothing to impede it’s growth. In a day or so, it will move over cooler water and into an area of higher wind shear. At that time, the National Hurricane Center believes it will weaken to a tropical depression in their 5 day forecast. And, I don’t disagree!

Looking at the national weather map, Houston, Texas is getting a good soaking today. Click here for the latest video forecast in Houston.

The TV weather guy there also has an analysis of an area of showers and thunderstorms in the Western Gulf that has the possibility of developing. Something to watch, but there’s nothing there yet!

-Dawn Brown