Old Hurricane Ike is still sliding along the Cuban coast and losing strength doing it.
At 10 p.m. our time the center of Hurricane Ike was located near latitude 21.8N longitude 80.8W -- in the Gulfo de Cazones, 2o miles south of Playa Giron and Bahía del Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) on the south coast of Cuba 140 miles southeast of Havana. Sustained winds are at a 80 mph maximum and forward speed slipped slightly to 13 mph.
The storm was ravelled by its pass over Cuba even though it escaped the highest mountains. Central pressure has risen to 967 milibars and hurricane force winds now only extend 35 miles from the center.
For your historical interest, the Bay of Pigs was the site of a 1961 U.S.-backed invasion by 1200 Cuban exiles and supporters that failed to overthrow President Fidel Castro's government. The survivors were later traded to the US for $53 million in medicine and money.
On its way toward this spot Ike's center passed just to the south of the city of Cienfuegos --one of Cuba's chief seaports (center of sugar trade, coffee and and tobacco) the farming region around Cienfuegos (literally 100 fires) is a chief sugar cane and coffee growing region. ( I can see a story coming about this effect on the world market because of the effect of Gustav on US sugar cane crops).
The picture above is the the state hotel in Cienfuegos. (Photo by Dirk van der Made)
Below, the picture is of a beach on the island of Cargo Largo del Sur -- on the south edge of the Gulfo de Cazones where Hurricane Ike is now passing.
--steve buser
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