I want to pass along details as I notice them...a few things so far this morning:
* Hanna is wrapping thunderstorms steadily around her center now and is over 85 degree ocean water that supports a Cat 5 storm. She won't grow that strong - limited time over water before landfall and not perfect conditions aloft - but she looks poised to strengthen
* Dry air intrusion on the east side limited Hanna for the last few days. Thunderstorms are filling that void and cutting off the dry air. A well developed center will get the heat engine going.
* Latest recon aircraft found no strengthening, but came out as the organizing process was underway.
* QuikScat satellite estimated winds show weakening winds far north of the center - in other words, the wind field is contracting and Hanna is becoming more tropical in nature.
* Will watch for continued signs of strengthening - wouldn't be shocked to see her strengthen linearly until landfall in NC very early Sat. This would mean stronger wind gusts for New England later. Right now, still thinking this may happen and that's why I'm sticking with SE gusts to 60-70 mph possible in SE MA and Cape Cod/Islands for a time overnight Sat night. Scattered trees down, power lines down, and typical marine impacts, but lower astronomical high tide limits flooding threat along the coast.
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