Hurricane Dean is upgraded to a Category 2 storm
{{date|August 16, 2007}}
[[Image:Hurricane Dean Coastal Watches 18 Aug 2007 11pm edt.gif|thumb|right|Hurricane Dean as reported by NOAA]]
According to the {{w|National Hurricane Center}}, {{w|Hurricane Dean (2007)|Hurricane Dean}} is now a {{w|Category 2 hurricane|Category 2}} [[hurricane]]. The {{w|Atlantic hurricane season|Atlantic's}} first hurricane of the season had top sustained winds at 100 mph at 5 p.m. EDT. Dean's winds were measured at 75 mph earlier in the day.

A meteorologist from the National Hurricane Center warns, "Dean is likely to become a major hurricane in the eastern [[Caribbean Sea]]." Adding that one forecast shows it could become "an extremely dangerous {{w|Category 4 hurricane|Category 4}} hurricane by the time it reaches the northwestern Caribbean Sea."

Forecasters claim the storm could threaten the {{w|Lesser Antilles}} by Friday. Dean is then forecast to pass over [[Jamaica]] by 2 p.m. EDT Sunday, and then move across the {{w|Yucatan Peninsula}} and enter the [[Gulf of Mexico]] by Tuesday.

Hurricane warnings have been issues for the islands of [[Saint Lucia|St. Lucia]] and [[Dominica]]. The Barbados weather service has issued a {{w|tropical cyclone warnings and watches|tropical storm warning}} for the island of [[Barbados]] and a {{w|tropical cyclone warnings and watches|tropical storm watch}} for {{w|Saint Vincent (island)|St. Vincent}} and {{w|Saint Martin|St. Maarten}}. 

Katherine Cesinger, a spokeswoman for Texas Governor {{w|Rick Perry}} said, "It's so far out, but it's not too early to start preparing...We have more notice than with Erin. We're glad for that especially since [Dean] is projected to bring some strength."

At 2 p.m. EDT, the storm was about 210 miles due east of Barbados and about 305 miles east of [[Martinique]], according to the {{w|National Hurricane Center}}. It is moving west at 23 mph. 

Hurricane Dean was officially named early this morning.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/081607kvuehurricanedean-cb.3e666443.html
|title=Dean upgraded to Category 2 hurricane
|author=
|pub=KVUE.com
|date=August 16, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20303842/
|title=Hurricane Dean Reaches Category 2 Status
|author=
|pub=msnbc
|date=August 16, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/weather/13887800/detail.html
|title=Hurricane Dean Becomes Category 2 Storm
|author=
|pub=Internet Broadcasting Systems, WTAE-TV
|date=August 16, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20289472
|title=Dean strengthens to Category 2 hurricane
|author=
|pub=MSNBC
|date=August 16, 2007}}

{{publish}}
{{archived}}

[[Category: North America]]
[[Category: United States]]
[[Category: Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category: Weather]]
[[Category:Hurricane Dean]]
[[Category:Hurricane season, 2007]]
[[Category:Gulf of Mexico]]
[[Category:Caribbean]]
[[Category:Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Jamaica]]
[[Category:Saint Lucia]]
[[Category:Dominica]]
[[Category:Barbados]]
[[Category:Martinique]]
[[Category:Rick Perry]]

[[es:Huracán Dean elevado a categoría 2]]
Hurricane Dean as reported by NOAA
According to the Hurricane Dean (2007)|Hurricane Dean is now a Category 2 hurricane. The Atlantic's first hurricane of the season had top sustained winds at 100 mph at 5 p.m. EDT. Dean's winds were measured at 75 mph earlier in the day.

A meteorologist from the National Hurricane Center warns, "Dean is likely to become a major hurricane in the eastern Caribbean Sea." Adding that one forecast shows it could become "an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane by the time it reaches the northwestern Caribbean Sea."

Forecasters claim the storm could threaten the Yucatan Peninsula and enter the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday.

Hurricane warnings have been issues for the islands of St. Lucia and Dominica. The Barbados weather service has issued a tropical storm warning for the island of Barbados and a tropical storm watch for St. Vincent and St. Maarten. 

Katherine Cesinger, a spokeswoman for Texas Governor  said, "It's so far out, but it's not too early to start preparing...We have more notice than with Erin. We're glad for that especially since Dean is projected to bring some strength."

At 2 p.m. EDT, the storm was about 210 miles due east of Barbados and about 305 miles east of Martinique, according to the . It is moving west at 23 mph. 

Hurricane Dean was officially named early this morning.
 North America  United States  Disasters and accidents  Weather Hurricane Dean Hurricane season, 2007 Gulf of Mexico Caribbean Atlantic Ocean Jamaica Saint Lucia Dominica Barbados Martinique Rick Perry