Hurricane Dean forecasted to become "catastrophic" Category 5 storm
{{date|August 18, 2007}}
[[image:8amtrack.gif|thumb|200px|right|Hurricane Dean forecast update at 8 a.m. (EDT) update on August 18, 2007, courtesy of NOAA.]] 
The {{w|National_Hurricane_Center|National Hurricane Center}} in [[Miami]] is calling [[Hurricane Dean|Hurricane Dean]] "extremely dangerous," saying that the storm is gaining strength and will likely become a {{w|Category_5_hurricane|Category 5}} storm. The storm's winds are currently clocked at 150 mph, classifying it as a {{w|Category_4_hurricane|Category 4 hurricane}}. A Category 5 hurricane means the storm has winds of over 155 mph and has the potential to cause "catastrophic" damage. 

Dean is currently moving through the eastern [[Caribbean|Caribbean]], and is heading towards the [[Dominican Republic|Dominican Republic]] and [[Haiti|Haiti]]. The storm is expected to hit [[w:Jamaica|Jamaica]] on Sunday, and then gain even more power as it strikes [[Mexico]]'s [[w:Yucatan Peninsula|Yucatan Peninsula]] on Monday.

Dean could hit the mainland of the [[United States]] on Wednesday. Therefore, officials in [[Texas]] and [[Louisiana]] are currently making major preparations.

{{w|Rick Perry}}, the Governor of Texas, said the hurricane is an "imminent threat," saying the state is preparing for its arrival. Task forces have been put on alert, and supply trucks and other resources are in position.

Governor {{w|Kathleen Blanco}} of Louisiana declared a state of emergency yesterday so local governments can move forward with emergency plans if necessary. However, forecasters say there is little chance of Dean moving toward Louisiana. Instead, the storm is expected to threaten Mexico or Texas.

A {{w|hurricane watch|hurricane watch}} has been issued for Haiti from the Haiti/Dominican Republic border to {{W|Port-au-Prince}}. {{w|Jamaica}} has opened all shelters and {{w|Cuba}} has declared a "state of alert" in preparation for the storm. 

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the [[US Virgin Islands|U.S.]] and {{w|Spanish Virgin Islands}} and [[Puerto Rico]].

At 5 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Dean was about 240 miles south-southwest of [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]], and 660 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and was moving west at 14 mph. However, the storm is expected to pick up speed today.

Hurricane Dean could force NASA to cut short {{w|Space_Shuttle_Endeavour|Endeavour}}'s flight. Mission management team chairman Leroy Cain said, "We'd really like to protect an option to be able to end the mission on Tuesday."

The ''Associated Press'' reports several deaths and significant damage on the islands of [[St. Lucia|St. Lucia]], {{w|Dominica|Dominica}} and [[Martinique|Martinique]].

== Related news ==
* {{wikinews|title=Hurricane Dean now a Category 4 storm|date=August 17, 2007}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/weather/13887800/detail.html
|title=Dean Predicted To Grow To Category 5
|author=
|pub=Internet Broadcasting Systems, WTAE-TV
|date=August 18, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://kdka.com/topstories/topstories_story_229073749.html
|title=Hurricane Dean Batters Carribean, Gathers Strength
|author=CBS
|pub=KDKA-TV
|date=August 18, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/18/storms/index.html
|title=Dean's threat spreads across Caribbean and into space
|author=CNN
|pub=CNN
|date=August 18, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20289472/
|title=Hurricane whips across Caribbean
|author=
|pub=MSNBC.com
|date=August 18, 2007}}

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[[Category: North America]]
[[Category: United States]]
[[Category: Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category: Weather]]
[[Category:Hurricane Dean]]
[[Category:Hurricane season, 2007]]
[[Category:Martinique]]
[[Category:Rick Perry]]
[[Category:Miami, Florida]]
[[Category:United States Virgin Islands]]
[[Category:Caribbean]]
[[Category:Haiti]]
[[Category:Dominica]]
[[Category:Saint Lucia]]
[[Category:Texas]]
[[Category:Louisiana]]
[[Category:Jamaica]]
[[Category:Cuba]]
[[Category:Dominican Republic]]

[[es:Dean se convertirá en una "catastrófica" tormenta de Categoría 5]]
Hurricane Dean forecast update at 8 a.m. (EDT) update on August 18, 2007, courtesy of NOAA. 
The National Hurricane Center in Miami is calling Hurricane Dean "extremely dangerous," saying that the storm is gaining strength and will likely become a Category 5 storm. The storm's winds are currently clocked at 150 mph, classifying it as a Category 4 hurricane. A Category 5 hurricane means the storm has winds of over 155 mph and has the potential to cause "catastrophic" damage. 

Dean is currently moving through the eastern Caribbean, and is heading towards the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The storm is expected to hit Jamaica on Sunday, and then gain even more power as it strikes Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Monday.

Dean could hit the mainland of the United States on Wednesday. Therefore, officials in Texas and Louisiana are currently making major preparations.

, the Governor of Texas, said the hurricane is an "imminent threat," saying the state is preparing for its arrival. Task forces have been put on alert, and supply trucks and other resources are in position.

Governor  of Louisiana declared a state of emergency yesterday so local governments can move forward with emergency plans if necessary. However, forecasters say there is little chance of Dean moving toward Louisiana. Instead, the storm is expected to threaten Mexico or Texas.

A hurricane watch has been issued for Haiti from the Haiti/Dominican Republic border to . Cuba has declared a "state of alert" in preparation for the storm. 

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the U.S. and  and Puerto Rico.

At 5 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Dean was about 240 miles south-southwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 660 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and was moving west at 14 mph. However, the storm is expected to pick up speed today.

Hurricane Dean could force NASA to cut short Endeavour's flight. Mission management team chairman Leroy Cain said, "We'd really like to protect an option to be able to end the mission on Tuesday."

The Associated Press reports several deaths and significant damage on the islands of St. Lucia, Dominica and Martinique.
 North America  United States  Disasters and accidents  Weather Hurricane Dean Hurricane season, 2007 Martinique Rick Perry Miami, Florida United States Virgin Islands Caribbean Haiti Dominica Saint Lucia Texas Louisiana Jamaica Cuba Dominican Republic