Tropical Trio: Southeast Watches Haggard Hanna Powerful Ike Stronger, Josephine Weakens

This morning's tropical trio review finds a weakened Tropical Storm Hanna still capable of threatening the Southeast Coast, an even stronger Hurricane Ike, and a weaker Josephine.

Tropical Storm Hanna's satellite appearance this morning is looking extremely disheveled. Very dry air to the north has choked off the convection at the core of the storm. Conditions are expected to be unfavorable for development through today, but strengthening to hurricane force is still possible as the storm moves northwestward at a faster rate toward the Southeast U.S. coast. Tropical storm and hurricane watches are in effect for portions of the Georgia coast through the Carolinas.

Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Ike strengthened even more overnight to as high as 145 mph, but it's down slightly in the latest advisory to 140 mph. It is expected to remain strong as it continues in a westerly direction generally toward the Bahamas.

Tropical Storm Josephine continues to weaken a little more as it moves west northwest. Some fluctuation in strength is possible, but the storm is expected to remain weak.

Hurricane Forecasting Science

Christopher Landsea of the National Hurricane Center was interviewed last night on NPR's All Things Considered on the subject of hurricane track and intensity forecasting.