The Houston and Galveston Web Cameras have lit up as residents flee the Houston area Friday ahead of the expected landfall of Hurricane Ike. Forecasters are warning of a deadly storm surge of a possible 18-20 feet.

Update: Damage photos here.

As of 10:00 a.m. CDT Friday, very large Category 2 Hurricane Ike was located near 27.2 north and 92.6 west or about 195 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas.

Ike is moving west-northwestward at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph.

Hurricane-force winds extend a massive 120 miles outward from the center of Ike. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 275 miles. 

Hurricane conditions were expected to reach the Texas coast Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. A hurricane warning is in effect from Morgan City, La. to Baffin Bay, Texas.

A tropical storm warning is in effect in Texas from Port Mansfield to Baffin Bay. A tropical storm warning also in effect from Morgan City, La. to the Mississippi/Alabama border and includes the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.

The devastation by Ike could be on a level not seen since Hurricane Alicia tore a path of destruction through the cities in 1983.

Residents living on the coast beyond a seawall are sure to face certain death if they fail to evacuate, Patrick Blood, a National Weather Service meteorologist, told the Houston Chronicle.

Computer models indicate Houston would have a direct hit from Ike, forecasters say. Landfall is forecast late Friday or early on Saturday between Freeport and Galveston, which puts Houston and surrounding Harris County on the dangerous east side of the storm.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for six counties and for nearly 245,000 residents in parts of Harris County, where Houston is located, the Chronicle said.

Track Ike at NOAA Here or TWC here. Stay tuned to tPC for updates over the next few days.

tPC, Reuters and UPI contributed to this story

Related

Hurricane Ike Damage 'Extensive,' Photos and Pictures Online

Bolivar Peninsula Rescue: 50 People Airlifted Ahead Of Hurricane Ike