Last night, the local weather reports in New Orleans showed that the Ike predictions ~ still pretty sketchy a week or so before predicted landfall ~ were predicated on the possibility/likelihood of a high-pressure area over Louisiana that should deflect the storm to one side or the other.

In other words, while the storm could hit anywhere from the Florida panhandle to the Rio Grande, the center of that area is NOT the most likely landfall, as one might think. If conditions develop according to rpedicitons ( ha ha ), the central Gulf Coast is actually a less likely site than the areas to either side.

If it does head this way (toward New Orleans), we'll drive all the way to my sister's house in Illinois. Can't aim any closer because we can't afford any more motel bills.