Last couple hours of radar loops sure look like Ian is forming a pretty rapid COC, maybe even an eye. This tells me, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ian each Hurricane status late today, and the latest tomorrow. With this rapidly forming COC, convection still looks interestingly light, with the SE quandrant almost precipitation free.
One interesting point to add, is that this is the first advisory within the last 5 that did not shift the path north and westward. Really interested in seeing the 11AM to see if this a breather, or whether the north central GOM may still be in play. Anyone living IMO say East of Pecan Island should be watching.
How quickly this W to WNW-NW-NNW turn happens is critical. Once that turn happens, the NHC will probably have a good grasp of how the storm responds to the trough entrenching in the SE CONUS. Once that is established, I expect the Cone to significantly narrow.
Which right now is Mobile, AL to Tampa Bay.