Dennis is gonna be a doozy

Looks like that Florida panhandle/Alabama/Louisiana coast is going to get smacked into again in a few days. It’s already a Cat 3 hurricane, and may even reach Cat 4 later tonight. Time for folks there to start battening down the hatches.
From today’s 5 PM discussion:

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS REMAIN QUITE FAVORABLE FOR STRENGTHENING AND THE OFFICIAL FORECAST SHOWS A BORDERLINE CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE IN 12 HOURS. DENNIS IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN SOMEWHAT OVER CUBA…BUT IT SHOULD REGAIN STRENGTH WHEN IT EMERGES OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO. ALTHOUGH THE WIND SHEAR MAY BECOME LESS FAVORABLE FOR INTENSIFICATION OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO…THE OFFICIAL FORECAST MAINTAINS DENNIS AS A MAJOR HURRICANE UP TO LANDFALL IN THAT AREA.