8:00 PM EDT on August 20, 2007

..Hurricane Dean very near category five strength...
...Outer bands arriving along the East Coast of the Yucatan
Peninsula...

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the entire coastline of
Belize...along the East Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from the
Belize/Mexico border northward to Cancun...and along the West Coast
of the Yucatan Peninsula from south of Progresso southward to
ciudad del Carmen. Preparations to protect life and property
should be rushed to completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect on the Yucatan Peninsula
from north of Cancun to Progresso.

At 800 PM EDT...0000z...the center of Hurricane Dean was located
near latitude 18.2 north...longitude 85.1 west or about 210 miles...
335 km...east of Chetumal Mexico.


Dean is moving toward the west near 20 mph...32 km/hr...and a
westward or west-northwestward motion is expected over the next 24
hours. On this track the center of the hurricane is expected to
make landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula very early Tuesday morning.
However...conditions are already beginning to deteriorate along the
East Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.


Reports from an Air Force Reserve unit hurricane hunter aircraft
indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased and are now
near 155 mph...245 km/hr...with higher gusts. Dean is an extremely
dangerous category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Some strengthening is expected later tonight...and Dean is likely
to become a category five hurricane prior to making landfall.


Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 60 miles...95 km...from
the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175
miles...280 km.


The minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force Reserve unit
reconnaissance aircraft was 915 mb...27.02 inches.


Dean is expected to produce storm total rainfall of 5 to 10 inches
over the Yucatan Peninsula...Belize...Guatemala...and northern
Honduras...with maximum amounts of up to 20 inches. These
rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.


Coastal storm surge flooding of 5 to 7 feet above normal tide
levels...along with large and dangerous battering waves...is
possible in the Cayman Islands. Storm surge flooding of 12 to 18
feet above normal tide levels is possible near and to the north of
where Dean makes landfall along the East Coast of the Yucatan
Peninsula.


Repeating the 800 PM EDT position...18.2 N...85.1 W. Movement
toward...west near 20 mph. Maximum sustained winds...155 mph.
Minimum central pressure...915 mb.

Belize 4 - I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR DALI IS IN CA! THANK YOU! DO YOU REMEMBER ME? CHILL? WHO R U?

from a friend

Everyone heading to Belmopan. I cannot get out to the junction to see
the action. I can only hope the cops are waving on most traffic - go
west, guys, deep west, run for the border. Belmopan is full!

Still I understand many will not leave Belize City. Heard a couple of
conversations at the breadline today. Generally, they do not trust the
cops to take care of business as the last time they were cleaned out
by thieves. One guy said the last time they cleaned out his house and
even stole his dog.

Bumber to bumper on the Western Highway, hundreds of vehicles, 10
accidents so far, drivers being very mean and not giving way to
ambulances trying to get through - it's everyman (and woman) for
himself.

still 18.2 for three hours. straight west. no northing.

from a friend

Just spoke to a person who is coordinating for Belize City with NEMO and
GOB just ordered a mandatory evacuation of the city, arranging for 100
buses to take people out. Mandatory curfew at 8pm in BC, OW and Corozal.

Any one on line; on the island now?

IF SO

How are things there?

water rising, winds mild. no rain currently

All international flights are operating as usual.
Tomorrow might be a different story.

Thanks, Marty, for all the updates. Don't know how you do it (don't care how), it's just good to have a source connected to Ambergris Caye. I'm a frequent visitor with lots of friends there and I just wish them all the best. Good luck, Everybody.

Quiet... cheerful mood for the moment.
Big waves at the reef. Got some pics over here:
http://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showgallery/Number/245821/Main/26154/#Post245821
Jan