I get a little peeved when I see science being misreported (sure, lie about politics, world affairs, but not science). The other day, I think NBC National news, they said that Hurricane Ivan was a major hurricane in the Carribean. It was, at the time, not yet a "Major" hurricane, and it was 1000 miles ESE of the Carribean...the central Atlantic is not the Carribean. Meanwhile, the only news channel we get is MSNBC...and they were reporting constantly about Hurricane Frances, and constantly lying about the windspeed. I lived on or near the coast in Rhode Island for 6 years or so through the winters, and I know what wind looks like on the water. The lying reporters were saying the windspeed was 50 or 60 mph when it was about 30...if that. Also, they were making like it was terribly hazardous to drive in 40 ot 50 mph winds..that the police would not patrol. I've driven my very light 1972 Subaru over bridges during Tropical storms. Until the wind gets up around 70, except maybe falling trees, there is not that big a risk being out in a storm. I'll admit to being overly cautious during Hurricane Bob....it was rated at 115 mph cat. 3 when the eye passed over Narragansett Bay where we were staying....I'd guess the winds were 90 mph...we boarded up all our windows, but the neighbors did not. No one lost any windows. I think more people were injured in Florida boarding up than if they had not done so....but, before Atlantic coast landfall, there was still the risk that it could have rapidly intensfied, like Charlie did.....you do want your windows boarded for Charlie-level winds.
By the way....the 5 day forecast has Ivan headed for south Florida...although the error cone that far out is pretty large. It is forecast to go to 150 mpg Cat. 4 in a day or 2.
Chris