Hurricane Ike continues to move toward the Texas coast

Hurricane Ike continues to move toward the Texas coast on 11 September 2008. As of 1100 UTC, the storm was located approximately 575 mi/920 km east of Brownsville, Texas. The storm is moving west-northwest at approximately 10 mph/8 kt and has maximum sustained winds of approximately 100 mph/86 kt. According to meteorologists at Wilkens Weather Technologies, the storm is expected to make landfall in Freeport, Texas, which is located approximately 63 mi/101 km south of Houston, as at least a Category 3 hurricane at 0000 local time on 13 September. Authorities have issued evacuation orders for low-lying areas of Harris County, the western end of Galveston Island, Brazoria County (which is located south of Houston) and all of Matagorda County except for Bay City and Van Vleck. Voluntary evacuation advisories are in place for most areas along the coast; more mandatory evacuation orders will likely be issued on 11 September. Travelers should expect delays and cancellations at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (KIAH/IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (KHOU/HOU) in Houston as the storm approaches. Southwest Airlines will suspend flights at Hobby Airport beginning at 0900 local time on 12 September.