Dean looks to head toward Mexico

As of 8pm:

Location:  17.5N, 77.8W

Movement:  W @ 20mph

Max Winds:  145mph

Minimum Pressure:  930mb

 

The latest model runs indicate that Dean looks to take a more southern route.  Mexico looks to be under the gun entirely, with just a slight chance that Dean will make a sharp right turn after he emerges into the Gulf of Mexico on the western side of the Yucatan.  This being said, southern Texas looks to miss a direct hit.  Cancun looks like it will see another hurricane like it did back in 1988...with winds up to 155mph, which is a Cat 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.  As he crosses over the Yucatan, Dean will likely weaken to a Cat 1 or 2.  With very warm SSTs in the Gulf, Dean will regain strength probably to a Cat 3 before reaching the western Gulf and once again bearing down on Mexico.