Sunday, Sep. 07, 2008

Manatee residents: Stay tuned for Ike

Manatee residents should stay tuned to the news as Hurricane Ike makes its way through the Gulf of Mexico.

Experts say it's too soon to tell where Ike will exactly go.

"We're still inside the five day cone, but that can change by today or the next day though," said Todd Barron, a meteorologist for Ruskin-based National Weather Service.

Local forecasters recommend area residents continue to monitor the hurricane's track.

"If people are looking for individual storm preparation, it's still a little too early for that. It's going to move slow now," said BayNews 9 Meteorologist Brian McClure at the St. Petersburg-based weather center. "It's going to move slow for the next four to five days. . . . It could be Tuesday or Wednesday. We won't know the impact until midweek."

Manatee school district spokeswoman Margi Nanney said school officials have not called off classes yet.

"We're just going to watch and wait. Hopefully, it doesn't come this way," she said.