Hurricane Ike Goes Major, Now Extremely Dangerous Category 4

While Hanna has been getting its act together near the Bahamas, Hurricane Ike further out in the Atlantic has been rapidly intensifying. As of 8 pm, Ike was a major Category 3 storm with maximum winds of 115 mph. By 11 pm, it was a Category 4 at 135 mph. Ike has gone from tropical storm to Category 4 in 12 hours. This is now the third major hurricane of the season. Ike's generally westward track should bring it near the Bahamas this weekend.

Tropical Storm Hanna's maximum winds are 65 mph as of 11 pm. It is expected to regain hurricane strength in the next couple of days as it approaches the Southeast U.S. coast. Various hurricane and tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Bahamas. After hammering Haiti with more flooding rains, Hanna has caused power outages in the Bahamas.

Josephine has weakened again, and it is expected to continue doing so. Its maximum winds are now down to 50 mph.

Images (top to bottom): Hurricane Ike satellite view from The Weather Channel, tracks of Ike, Hanna, and Josephine from National Hurricane Center