Mighty Ike expected to mess with Texas

This is the latest view of Hurricane Ike from NASA's Global Climate and Hydrology Center.

I have marked New Orleans (where I am) and Houston (the apparent landfill target -- and where I am glad I am not.)

Our thoughts and prayers are with those in Houston and the surrounding area. Notice the eye which has opened up in the center of Ike -- that had not be visible yesterday -- he seems to be getting better organized. Fortunately, weather forecasters say there are lot of things keeping Ike from organizing up to a Category 4 or 5 storm (wind shear, dry air wrapping in to the swirl periodically, etc). Ike is expected to be a Category 2 or 3 storm when it pushes as much of the Gulf as it can control up over the beaches of Galveston later tonight.

-steve buser